There comes a point each and every day when I’m overcome with emotion about how truly special each of my children is. I’d love to say it’s first thing in the morning when I see their smiling faces. But, truth be told, I’m usually not thrilled that it’s so gosh darn early. And I’d love to say it’s when I’m cuddling up with them in bed after a long day. But, truth be told, I’m usually pretty tired at that point too. So, most times, it’s in the little moments in between.
It’s in the way Pink sings what she wants to say — incorporating her animated faces and dance moves along the way. It’s in the way Little knows that something isn’t worth the fight, so he lets his brother or sister have their way — not because he’s giving up, but because he’s totally at peace just knowing he’s made someone else happy. With Big, it’s usually when I discover him doing or saying something so outrageously profound that I have to remind myself he’s still just a little boy.
I do my best to tell each of them how I feel at that moment. Right then and there, when they take my breath away. But sometimes I wonder. Do they hear the sincerity in my words? Do they feel the pride in my kiss as it brushes their hair? Do these sentiments pass through them, or settle in their souls?
Well, one way I know they’ll really sit and listen, is by admiring themselves. Yes, like all kids, they can’t get enough of seeing pictures of themselves. So I’ve created special videos made up of their photographs and my words, thanks to Stanford Children’s Health and Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. Not only has this lovely, talented group of health care providers helped my family through hugely challenging moments over the past eight years (yes, living right by the top-ranked children’s hospital in Northern California for over a decade has been a huge blessing for our family), now they’re helping me celebrate some little extraordinary moments, too.
Below are links to each of the videos I’ve made on the Stanford Children’s Health site celebrating my little loves. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to create videos for your kids too. Because each and every child is extraordinary, and they truly deserve to be celebrated.
Your kid is extraordinary. Show them how much you enjoy every moment together by creating a special video of your own!
NOTE: The site makes it really simple to add pictures and text. If you need to crop photos to make them more perfectly horizontal, I highly recommend using PicMonkey.com.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Love this, Amy! Great reminder on those tough days where you are too tired to appreciate the little things…and big things…and pink things.
Like today? Thinking I should watch them again right now. 😉