Last night during bedtime stories, SIERRA WOKE ME UP AGAIN!

It went something like this . . . "Mom, will you tell us a story?" "Well, since it's New Years Eve, how about doing something different tonight. It's a tradition that I've been doing for years now. Let's get rid of one thing that we want to say goodbye to. One thing that we see ourselves doing that we really don't like, like hitting our sister, or yelling at our brother or being impatient. . . And then lets envision replacing 'it' with something different. Something that we would like to see ourselves doing. Something much brighter, much happier, much more fun, relaxing and loving."

I began by proceeding to tell the children something that I resolve to change within myself for the new year. Sierra looked at me with her beautiful awake eyes and said, "Mom, I like myself just the way I am. I don't want to change anything about myself."

Suddenly, the image of any hierarchy in that laid in that bed vanished! The image of me wanting to shed some awareness onto my children with my silly little tradition *poof* The idea that I have any bit of wisdom that they don't have, that I have so much to teach them. The concept that I know more, am more wise *poof*poof*poof*

Ahhhh yes! What incredibly sweet words from my very wise young teacher! "Thank you Sierra, for your wisdom. "I like myself just the way I am. Yes, sometimes I forget how perfect we all are." (in our own silly little imperfections.) Acceptance at it's best at such a young perfect little unfettered age. When in the world does this change? When do the stories start kicking in? The stories of not being good enough, of needing things to be different. The stories of needing to be better, to change, to do this or that, to be anything other than what and who we are.

And so, with that short simple bedtime story, one more story was put to rest. The story that I need to be something different than I am. One more TRADITION / CONDITION was thrown out at bedtime. Imagine a world where we can accept each other just a little more, accept ourselves just a little more and be a little more forgiving each day. . .

So tonight when your telling your bedtime stories, put another story to rest as well, those silly little stories we tell ourselves in our mind each day that keep us from being who we really are.