A Mermaid Tale!

I couldn't resist this as my title, even though I did not see a real MERMAID!  If I do, I would be so happy.  :)  It seemed like a Mermaid day yesterday.  My friend, Jennifer Harp-Douris is the owner of Mermaid Tears jewelry and it was her birthday.  I have one of her pieces with beach glass and a mermaid...how cool is that?  They are not like ordinary jewelry, the are pieces of ART and are quite magical.  I did not see her on her birthday but did think of her at the beach, and again pretended like I was a mermaid.


I have a love affair with the sea.  I feel so drawn to it, like a magnetic pull, it's beauty and power, both inspires and intrigues me.  It felt cooler than it's been but I told my ten year old son, Aidan, i would swim with him.  Well, we frolicked, played, and loved getting tumbled around like little fish.  We jumped into the waves and he was smiling so big, I thought it was up to something.  he has been known to pinch my leg, pretending he was a crab, or put seaweed in my hair.  I don't know where he would have learned that kind of silly behavior from.  I dove under some waves but then I got the idea to look up at the sky and jump into the wave.  As I would do this, I would see the waves of water, fly into the sky turning into drops of clear water, casting rainbows for a second, and then turning into foam as it made it's way back to join the rest of the wave.  I love magical moments like that, where you know they are going to turn into memories you will hold in your heart forever. 


I don't know what anyone else was seeing but through my happy rose-colored glasses, Jennylicious world, I saw magic.  Every time, I see an awesome, amazing breathtaking sight that never gets old.  Each wave has it's own unique configuration of colors, shape, and volume.   The farthest hue was sapphire and closer to shore was this cerulean, blue-green color.  When the wave was rising, it was almost sage colored and the sunlight would play off the white foam of the wave, making it seem to light up from within.  I just love the ocean, can't ya tell?  And really I do get excited about the simplest things in life but nature still seems like a miracle to me.  Every flower I see, every tree, every animal, is so special...if you take the time to look at it's magnificence. 

The same could really be said for people.  They are bringing their own awesomeness to the table, if you look past your judgment and see what their unique, perfect, and often hidden spark.  We look past flaws with our kids, friends, or lovers sometimes but new folks we automatically look for the bad.  Or as not to be disappointed in even the closer people in our lives, we don't expect to much, we see all they do wrong, and we push them away...not realizing it.  What if you looked for the good in everyone, including yourself?  When they say "Ignorance is bliss"...maybe that means ignoring the little things that you don't like about others or that they didn't take the trash out.   Do you want someone to focus on what you do right?  I do.  I am practicing this with my own kids.  Life is too short to be controlling every second and reacting, refereeing, instead deep breath and teach them a new way to look at the situation. 

Coming back to my beautiful beach day, my four year old, Finn was being a nudge.  He got mad and started turning into the Hulk.  I could get mad, try and control or see what the situation calls for.  Each kid is so unique that I take everything on an energetic case by case basis.  When I am really on, present, living-in-the-moment, I am so good!  LOL.  I actually taught him that sometimes he just needs attention and to ask me for it.  There is a vying for power and control between siblings, yes, but I always know there is a better way.  Aidan and I were going out for a last swim and Finn wanted to be with us.  He doesn't go out far at all so Aidan went to say, "You can't come with us."  I showed him a different way.  I said, "Finn, you can come out with us, out far or you can go up to play in the sand with Gibby and Pop."  He choose to go play in the sand.  He didn't feel like he was losing out because we gave him a choice.  I just love that my kids teach me new ways to think and grow, even by challenging me.  I love learning something new everyday and having more fun every day!  At one point, Aidan wanted to get out of the ocean, and I said, "i think you may be the only kid who is trying to get their Mom out of the ocean."  I really do turn into even more of a kid out there.  ENJOY YOUR DAY!  My advice:  Always have fun while you're growing.  I'm going back to the beach.  Lovies!!!  Best wishes & Mermaid kisses!