I'd
never been to a beauty salon...until my birthday last week.
I
had just cuddled up on the couch with my laptop. I felt relieved that MaryAnn
was finally down for a nap...and pressure to make the most of those
minutes...the clock was ticking. I was planning to post the blog
entry that would announce our new www.presentparenting.org website. It felt like a monumental moment for me. After years of stirring up
ideas and hypotheses, I was finally ready to share. Excitement welled up inside
me and out through my fingertips as I tapped away.
30
seconds later, I heard giggling in the vicinity...and footsteps. I peered above
my screen just in time to see a toy mailbox planted at my feet with three cards
in it. The backs of three girls scampered away up to the bathroom.*more
giggling*
I
hesitated...should I accept their energy? Or block it and get back to my
important task at hand?
Their
giggles rang through my mind. I smiled. I reached into the mailbox and opened
card #1. It was written by my 4-yr-old. Random letters filled the inside. Card
#2 came from my 5-yr-old. It said, "COME TO THE MOMOSOG."
Interesting. Good thing there was a card #3.
"Come
to the salon in the kids bathroom. Come as soon as you get the card. Love,
Kirsten, Allison, and Cienna See you there."
Decision
time. Beauty Salon or Pyramid Post? For a former jock/drummer and future brain
scientist wanna-be who now has 4 girls...this was a very challenging decision.
I hesitated again and noticed my insides trying to process the conflicting
issue at hand.
It
was my birthday, so I could rightfully pick whatever I wanted and feel guilt
free. Correct? Actually, even on birthdays...it depends on which part
of my brain I'm using. If I respond only to my own stomach churning and fail to
pause and consider the needs of all parties involved in order to the make the
best decision in that moment, the issue would remain unresolved and guilt might
be one of the consequences.
So,
I paused and asked my prefrontal cortex to take an honest look at the
situation.
Then
I decided that my birthday was the perfect time for my first spa experience. I
set my lap top aside. As I ascended the stairs, I consciously called for my
mind to come along, too (because my lower brain wasn't convinced yet), so my
children and I could benefit from a fully present mother. (I knew if I left my
brain back at my computer, we'd all have a 'half-there' experience...and our
brains would take note and have to cope somehow...I knew because we've done
that at least a million times.)
I
drew on powers beyond my own as I knocked on the entrance door.
As
my girls greeted me with, "Welcome to the our salon!" in lavish
accents, my heart swelled and I was there...fully.
I
felt water splash from my companion's toes to mine in the soothing foot soak...
I
breathed in the smell of fresh polish as I received a full personalized
manicure by small hands struggling to stay steady (with free nail-drying
included).
My
toes were stretched beyond prior capacity during my spectacular pedicure.
And
at THIS salon, the hostesses even let you paint their nails!
So posh.
My
girls filled me with their love and energy in that salon and when the memory
comes back days later (and most definitely in years to come), that same
energy flashes through my mind and zings through my whole body...again...and
again.
Being
pampered by the minds of my children...It's truly a beautiful experience.
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