The race is on!

The book:  Is there Really a Human Race? by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell is an amazing book for children aged 3-10. Each time I read it, I realize that this is a great book for adults as well as children.  I particularly like the following passages:

Is the race like a loop or an obstacle course?  Am I a jockey, am I a horse?  Is there pushing and shoving to get to the lead? If the race is unfair, will I succeed?  Do some of us win?  Do some of us lose?  Is winning or losing something I choose?   Why am I racing ? What am I winning?  Does all of my running keep the world spinning?

It ends with : Sometimes it’s better not to go fast.  There are beautiful sights to be seen when you’re last.  Shouldn’t it be that you just try your best?  And that’s more important than beating the rest?

The entire message of this book is worth considering at this busy time of year.  The kids have gone back to school.  Sports are starting up.  Volunteer opportunities, play dates and personal goals fill up my calendar from morning to night.  I find it difficult to slow myself down.  I want to be the best mom, best athlete, best wife, best friend and a successful business woman.  Is it possible? Not only do I  push myself, but then I turn around and push my kids.  Am I too hard on them? Why can’t I be happy if they are just great students?  Do they need to be better than everyone else?  What the hell am I teaching my kids!!!!!????

I don’t have the answers to all of the questions above.  I am still working on how to slow things down a bit.  The days that I am able to enjoy my life the most are those that I actually sit down and listen to my kids for more than five minutes.  Maybe they are telling me a silly story, or something that happened at school or what they want for Christmas (yes they already have a list).  I don’t answer the phone or check emails for a stretch of time and I have a minute to look around and appreciate all of the wonderful things in my life.