What my children have taught me. A message for new moms and dads everywhere:

Soak in your babies.
Love your children unconditionally and without judgment.
Gaze at them in wonder and remember that with every passing moment, they are getting older.
Hug your child.
Kiss your child.
And always find nights to wander into their room to watch them sleep. There is nothing more beautiful. Even when they are late teens and adults.
Let the dishes go.
Don’t worry about the laundry.
Those windows with fingerprints? It’s called child’s art.
If the house doesn’t get clean or if those errands don’t get run, please don’t fret. Time with your child is far more important.. and there’s always tomorrow for what didn’t get done today.
Play big with your child!
Jump in puddles beside them.
Have a food fight at least once.
Be a part of their nerf gun fights.
Dance out loud together to their music, not only your own!
Let them stand in line at midnight for a new release of a book.
Or take them to a midnight movie and skip first hour the next day.
Let them skin their knees, fail, and figure out their own mistakes.
Don’t solve all of their problems for them.
Those LEGO’s you’re stepping on? Some day you will miss it. Trust me.
Teach them how to do house chores early in life. And expect a few dishes to get broken, toilets to get clogged, clothes to get ruined, and messes to get cleaned up as they’re learning.
Support your child’s crazy and outlandish ideas. You never know where they may lead to.
Always be age appropriate honest with your child. Never lie.
Have open conversations and invite questions.
Let them be who they are, not who you think they should be.
And by all means, when they call you out of the blue and ask, “Hey mom or dad, can you ... (?)” and you frustratingly role your eyes, just stop and remember that someday you’ll wish for that call again.
They grow up so fast.
How did this happen? And where did the time go?
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for my three sons. Ever.

>>Tag someone you care about ❤️

xo
Mom + Sara
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@liveboldlypodcast @carsonkranz #live #love #birthday #parenting #newparents #author #speaker #truth #peace #values #honesty #mythreesons

DO NOT MISS OUT. Climbing mountains has taught me to listen. I feel close to God when I’m out there. To the Universe. To my mom. To my past, PRESENT, and ultimately.. my future. It’s the steps that we have taken to get us to the peaks in life. It’s the present moment of where our feet currently lie, grounded in this earth. To me, the mountains represent our future. This ability to overcome what lies in our path. This willingness to face our fears, thrust our faith ahead of our ego, and trust our human ability. It’s about seeing what we are capable of: mind, body, spirit.

Recently, I’ve felt this desire to climb higher. Never would I ever have imagined this flame inside of me. Perhaps it was lying dormant these past 49 years, until this new decade that’s ahead of me. What began as a decade of sadness and trauma at 40, is closing in hope, peace, and joy.

That said, I’ve wondered: Am I being selfish by climbing mountains? The risk of what I do, because I have kids? And I always come home to: NO. Parents model for their kids. What it is to be healthy, and not. Every risk I’ve taken in life has been for health, wellness, and my desire to grow. Though I’ve made many, many mistakes as a mom (who hasn’t?), we choose to risk by honoring our values (adventure, love, passion, purpose), or we risk losing who we are by dishonoring our values through dishonesty, betrayals, addictions, etc.

CHOICE. Living is about choice.

When life hands you hard times, use what’s happened to become who you were intended all along. Don’t let the storm flood your boat. Instead, put up your sail and ride the wind. The waves. The current. You never know where you will land.

I don’t watch tv, but last week I watched the documentary “14 Peaks.” Already feeling inspired to climb higher, I announced to my dad, uncle, and sons that Nepal awaits. I want to climb a bigger mountain. Yesterday, when I reached the top of Mt. Baldy, there were flags that represent the Himalayas. A sign? YES. I believe so.

LISTEN and you are guided.

#signs #universe #mountains #nepal #adventure #guide #heal #grow

LET’S GIVE ♥️ to all kids of single parent households, and to all single parents:

It’s not easy. And you’re all doing an amazing job.

Please tag your single parent friends and their kids below.

I love you.

#single #parent #author #speaker #keynote #love #live #hope #greatjob #hardwork