After several months of waiting, hoping and wishing, my 7-year-old daughter received her pen licence at school last Friday.
This will put pay to endless questioning each Friday morning of;
‘Do you think it will be me today Mom?’
(Pen licences only get issued on a Friday, of course! :-)).
Upon hearing the much awaited, and fantastic, news the Hubby asked;
‘Do you think we should get a special pen as a congratulations?’
I bet you can guess my response…
So, no new pen. After all, there’s a special pen from her teacher to be kept at school, which means the world as it is the only one she will use. We have an abundance of pens at home. It wouldn’t be special, it’d be disregarded, forgotten, left lying about and ultimately become clutter. And in my eyes we’re already drowning in stuff.
There are other ways to show you care…
Cake, for example!
A celebration cake, her favourite – chocolate cake with frosting and buttons.
Like the one I made to celebrate going back to school. Yes, back to school, not breaking up from school for holidays. Today’s is slightly different, in that it’s heart-shaped.
Every day there are special moments, things to celebrate. They may only seem small, but they are worth celebrating. They are worth creating a memory for.
Having children allows you to enjoy their special times. Each little achievement is an opportunity for celebration. Being awarded a new swimming badge or achieving 10 out of 10 on a spelling test.
But what about us? The grown-ups?
Have we stopped celebrating our small stuff? Do we even notice our day-to-day achievements? Or are we always wistfully looking ahead, focusing on the big win?
Last week I read this post over at Get Rich Slowly. Lately I hardly read anything that opens my eyes and makes me think about things truly differently, I’ve read such a lot. This did. (I even commented – number 59 in case you’re wondering).
Sincerely, I may have forgotten what joy we can find in our own moments. Not just with our children, I notice that every day, I make that my job, my eyes are always open. But what about celebrating the small stuff specifically for me? I’m not so vigilant about that.
Why with each passing year does the ability to play one’s own achievements down become so much easier? Would we be happier if we congratulated ourselves more, rather than berating ourselves?
Perhaps it’s time to start celebrating the little things in life more, because maybe they aren’t so small?
Anyhow….off to frost that cake…and if I do a good job, I may just give myself a pat on the back 😉
A pen license is a new concept for me. I don’t think we do it here across the pond. In fact, handwriting is not taught in most places.
Big emphasis on it here at primary school. I remember 30+ years ago it being a key part of school also. We didn’t get a licence as such, but I remember having to work toward being allowed to use pen and it being a big thing linked to handwriting.
A pen license is a new concept for me. I don’t think we do it here across the pond. In fact, handwriting is not taught in most places.
Big emphasis on it here at primary school. I remember 30+ years ago it being a key part of school also. We didn’t get a licence as such, but I remember having to work toward being allowed to use pen and it being a big thing linked to handwriting.
What a good idea! I had a look at the pen licence you linked to, and I think the conditions of keeping the privilege are a good thing too. Congratulations to your daughter 🙂
Regarding the Get Rich Slowly article, I wonder if those who are fairly ambitious are more apt to deny themselves the happiness of little achievements … I am one of those who is happy at home and in a part-time job, I have no particular goals except to have time to read and spend with family and pets, and I am fortunate to feel quite a high level of happiness most days … do low expectations = more happiness?? I kind of feel like a lazy bum describing myself that way; on the other hand, like I said — high level of happiness. Interesting topic!
Hi Jo… yes it does seem to be linked to ambition. I thought the article was really interesting, perhaps as I am currently wrestling with choices I need to make. It’s good to hear that you are happy – and that your decision to keep it simple has aided that happiness.
What a good idea! I had a look at the pen licence you linked to, and I think the conditions of keeping the privilege are a good thing too. Congratulations to your daughter 🙂
Regarding the Get Rich Slowly article, I wonder if those who are fairly ambitious are more apt to deny themselves the happiness of little achievements … I am one of those who is happy at home and in a part-time job, I have no particular goals except to have time to read and spend with family and pets, and I am fortunate to feel quite a high level of happiness most days … do low expectations = more happiness?? I kind of feel like a lazy bum describing myself that way; on the other hand, like I said — high level of happiness. Interesting topic!
Hi Jo… yes it does seem to be linked to ambition. I thought the article was really interesting, perhaps as I am currently wrestling with choices I need to make. It’s good to hear that you are happy – and that your decision to keep it simple has aided that happiness.
A very interesting topic indeed. I recently had a similar discussion with my friend. It’s crazy how we overlook our small achievements, but get upset about little things that didn’t go so well. I try to make a point of listing the things I’m grateful for, happy with and PROUD OF every day. Good luck with your decision-making!
A very interesting topic indeed. I recently had a similar discussion with my friend. It’s crazy how we overlook our small achievements, but get upset about little things that didn’t go so well. I try to make a point of listing the things I’m grateful for, happy with and PROUD OF every day. Good luck with your decision-making!
I think that celebrating even relatively big achievements for us adults is difficult. When I graduated college, I went out for dinner because my family took me; I wouldnt’ have celebrated otherwise.
I think that celebrating even relatively big achievements for us adults is difficult. When I graduated college, I went out for dinner because my family took me; I wouldnt’ have celebrated otherwise.
I started a ‘Gratitude Jar’ for New Year. Write down any event that has made you happy/grateful & put it in the jar. On New Year’s Eve you read about all the good things that have made you happy during 2013
What a fantastic idea…food for thought…I’d like to look at doing something similar here!
I started a ‘Gratitude Jar’ for New Year. Write down any event that has made you happy/grateful & put it in the jar. On New Year’s Eve you read about all the good things that have made you happy during 2013
What a fantastic idea…food for thought…I’d like to look at doing something similar here!