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Borrowing

As a wife and mother, I've got some game- if you need someone to coordinate a holiday meal, conquer an impossible to-do list, blitz clean a house, or drill multiplication tables, I'm your girl (wow- fun).  I also have many, many gaps (home decor, rest, general fashion, managing expectations, shutting up).  You just can't be all things to all people in all situations- being a mother to many teaches you that early and often.  My go-to tactic when I know I'm in the weeds?  When I know one of my kids needs something from me that I just.... don't have?  Don't know how to do well?  Don't know how to give authentically?  

I borrow. 

I have family and friends with such incredible skill sets- when someone needs something from me that I just don't have to give, I borrow their skills.  

I have a dear childhood friend who has always radiated confidence- I saw in her what has never come naturally to me.   Luckily for me, she wears her confidence beautifully and it envelopes those around her.  It's not a competition- she wants to win, but she wants you to win too.  When I don't know how to demonstrate confidence to my kids, I pause and consider, what would Maggie say?

That mom I saw in the classroom once- that reaction she had?  She beamed at her daughter's completely ordinary rendition of a song.  When I say beamed... it doesn't do that smile justice.  Her daughter LIT UP under her mothers gaze.  That unadulterated amazement and demonstrated pride.... I need that (I get stuck in the gear that downplays..... "Everyone did a great job.  You remembered all your lines!  Don't worry if you were the best one up there- so long as you had fun.")- so that's what I borrow. 

My hope is, the more I borrow, the more the confidence and excitement seeps into my bones.  The gap is filled by a trickle of goodness from the wonderful people in my life.  

What can you borrow from others?  What can you lend?




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