Parenting Tip/Life-Hack: Focus On What We Have In Common

Me with our sweet baby Zu, a few years ago.


I know it's completely stepping out on a limb to think that I could/should offer a parenting tip: I have SO much to learn yet myself.

BUT, after Zu came home yesterday and shared this experience she had while riding her bike in our neighborhood . . . I just had to.

And in my defense, I have had a few profound life experiences adopting 6 kiddos and living on a deserted island with "strangers" for 67 days--experiences that have taught me one SUPER IMPORTANT LIFE/PARENTING LESSON/LIFE-HACK:

Whenever you meet someone--no matter where or how you come to meet--focus on what you have in common.

Find the common ground.

Even if the only thing you have in common is that you are both human beings on Planet E at this unique space/time: find the common ground.

 Your relationships, and the health of our societies, depend on us finding common ground one with another.

 I promise you--try it for a day and you will see what I mean: FIND THE COMMON GROUND.

 Life is beautiful when you connect with other people. And what I mean by that is this: truly connect. FIND A CONNECTION between yourself and others. Because it's there. You have a connection to every living being on the planet. I promise.

Boom! 
Our kiddos, minus Elder Meehan (he was already on his service mission).
This was taken at a "Kidday" at his work. Cool work, huh?
PS: To the teenage boys who stopped our daughter yesterday on her bike and said, "At least we aren't black"--I pray that you never ever have people turn things that are beautiful about you into some snap negative statement. Because you WOULD BE LUCKY to be born like our daughter. She is the most incredible young person we know. And sadly, you are creating a world where people DIVIDE instead of join--which means, most likely, that adults in your world see your DIFFERENCES as NEGATIVE. And that makes me feel sorry for you. (Hopefully, I'm just being extremely sensitive and you spoke without thinking . . . in which case, you are teenagers afterall. I can give some wiggle room for wonky behavior.)

But quite frankly, our family refuses to live in a world of "OTHERS" and "DIFFERENCE"--the world we live in UNITES people, not divides them.

So there. 

 And furthermore, if I ever run into you in our neighborhood, you're going to learn this lesson from me directly. You may get to define the world you live in--but NOT the world my family lives in.

 Boom!





Popular posts from this blog

Giveaway Time: Retro Popcorn Machine (Air)

Image
(c) Nostalgia, 2011. I know microwave popcorn is WAY convenient and tasty, but it's not that healthy for you. So ... I thought it would be fun to giveaway an air-popped popcorn machine. And this is the one I own, so I thought we could be twins! Giveaway begins today and ends at 11:59pm on 2/24    (Friday, Mountain Time). Dawn's Blog Giveaway Rules 1. Anyone may enter.  Family, friends, in-laws, out-laws, previous winners, etc. 2. You enter by leaving a comment on my blog. Leave a comment--any comment--between today,  February 17 and February 24, 2012 @ 11:59pm. 3. One winner per giveaway: 1 Nostalgia Air Popped Popcorn Machine (red). I didn't win the million, sorry! 4. Winner is selected RANDOMLY using Random.org. The comments are numbered in the order they are received. 5. Winner will be named--first name/username--only on the blog on February 1. You may enter under anonymous, but I will have a ...
Read more

When The Flu Comes To Town ...

Image
Even Harriet-the-dog threw up this weekend. What the what? Well, if there's anything positive about having the flu, it's having it over a weekend--so you can truly REST from your work/school/etc. Right? Uh, sure. Poor Bam, Dave, Zu and even Harriet-the-dog each caught a weird cold/flu-type thing that had them "down for the count" this weekend. It was awful. I was teasing Dave, but I'm not sure if it's worse to be the one with the flu--or the mom to the ones with the flu. Eeek! (We're talking a lot of laundry and disinfectant. If you're picking up what I'm layin' down.) Hopefully they will be on the mend here soon. And hopefully, the remaining non-flu family members have used enough Purell to keep us germ-free. Crossing my fingers. Hope your weekend was 'smarvelous. ***** PS: Booo. BYU lost this weekend. (Yay if you are a Ute fan--Liz B.) PPS: Not that it's a big deal in the Big Picture, but I did deactivate ...
Read more

Recipe: Survivor South Pacific's " Ponderosa Caramel Banana Pancakes"

Image
(c) Sassafras Cafe, 2012. It's taken me a year to get the recipe (literally).  But here it is:  Chef Simon's  Survivor South Pacific  Ponderosa Caramel Banana Pancakes Ingredients Equal quantities of:  Soft fine dark brown sugar Unsalted Butter Full cream Sliced bananas (say bah-nah-na w/ an Australian accent please) Hot pancakes  Directions 1. Combine butter and sugar together over low heat,  2. Add cream stir with wooden spoon till combined  3. Add sliced bananas. 4. Slowly heat; don't boil. 5. Add to hot pancakes and e njoy ! Me, at Survivor South Pacific's Ponderosa, 2011. (Ponderosa is the location where players stay once they leave the game.)
Read more