A conversation with Cub, while driving to preschool:
“Daddy, yesterday, I hurt my knee, and I didn’t cry.”
“I’m sorry you hurt your knee. It’s OK to cry if something hurts, if you need too. I cry sometimes.”
“No, no. I smiled to myself.”
“You smiled to yourself?”
“Yes. I hurt my knee, and I smiled to myself, and the smile went down to my knee, and I kept running.”
“Oh.” Pause. “Wow. I really admire your treating yourself so kindly. That was a very caring and wise way of handling things.”
“Thank you.”
May I be kind to myself when pain arises, whether physical or emotional.
May I see the pain and myself clearly.
May I remember that I am just a dad doing his best; that I am subject to the baggage and bullshit of my time and place but not defined or determined by them; that loyalty to learning with my children is grounded in the simple act of beginning again.
May I welcome the lessons my children offer.
May I smile to myself.