Chronicles of This Mama

The chaos is real. Often it’s a mishmash of balancing conflicting schedules, eating on the run, waving to one another as we pass through the door, and somehow making sure all the needs are met and deadlines hit.

I’ve found that as I come to the end of another decade and inch closer to “middle aged” I try to see the world around me with a more understanding view. That doesn’t mean I agree with every other view point but I can understand why someone would have that POV. There is a difference and today it’s hard for people to acknowledge that difference. To respectfully disagree. It’s not always black and white, right or wrong. Often there is a gray and I tend to live in a very grey POV.

If you’re reading this then you’re probably raising kids of your own. They’re watching and absorbing your reactions and how you try to understand the world around you, or if you’re not trying then how you close off and ignore or put down the world around you. There has to be understanding. If we want a world that is understanding it starts at home.

Again, this isn’t about accepting everything blindly. We need to be critical thinkers. We need to take information and discern things for ourselves but we need to understand that our process in doing that is different than those around us. Not everyone holds the same values close. You don’t live the same life. You have had different experiences to get to where you are compared to the person next to you and that’s ok.

We need to understand it’s ok to be friends with people who we disagree with, to teach our kids it’s ok to respectfully disagree – to hold their own values high but also try to understand others. We are called to love one another and be good neighbors. Let’s teach that at home. It’s not always as serious as it may feel in the moment, it’s okay to pause and walk away. It’s okay to respond later. It’s okay to leave someone on read.

So in a world where life feels too fast. I respectfully disagree and will be raising my kids how it bests fits our family. We will follow our morals and values and those things that are important to us and if implore you to do the same. While doing so though, please yours it’s okay to disagree, respectfully and I’ll do the same. Less hate, more understanding and peace.

Just some Friday thoughts. Have a great weekend.