Natural athleticism

Jace.  My son.  I see so much of myself in you.  Your perfectionism.  Fear of failure.  Natural athleticism.  School is easy.  Love of learning.

There is a saying that when raising a child, you need to raise yourself first.  I think of that a lot.  I think of myself when I see me in you.  I see you believe  you should get things perfect on the first try.  I see you overly critical of yourself.  I see you get your feelings hurt when someone has something negative to say about you.

I promise you I am doing my best to practice what I preach, but Jace I want you to embrace failure!  I want you not to see it as a measure of your ability, but rather a lesson that helped you learn!

I want you to understand you are naturally smart and athletic, but to also know that it doesn't mean you should never make mistakes or fail.  The converse is true! If you are able to learn early that failure is only a lesson in making you better, you will rule this world.  You can be anything you want to be.  That is true of everyone, but for you, you have natural ability and if it is combined with the belief that failure makes you better and if you can learn from mistakes you will be unstoppable....then Jace the sky truly is the limit for you.

Please always consider others in whatever endeavor you choose.  We were born to be of service to others and in service to others so we find our true identity, happiness, and purpose.

Today you learned to ride a bike without training wheels.  You are 5.  Daddy took them off Ashlynn's bike.  She is 8. She can't do it yet, but you asked to try and it took you a couple of turns and you did it.  You fell a few times first.  You were scared you told me, especially when you turned, but you still did it.  You did, and  you took off and flew.

That is a metaphor for life Jace.  Remember that moment of being 5.  You were scared, you were unsure, but the thought of succeeding and riding that bike was exciting and so you tried anyway.  You fell.  You fell a couple times, but you never gave up.....and when you learned to ride without training wheels, the smile on your face spelled a freedom you had never known.  Don't lose that Jace.  That is the power of our natural ability paired with you willingness to try and fail that will NEVER let you down.  Believe in yourself.  I'm so proud of you.  I love you.

Love Mom.

New Star Wars Bike we got you after you learned how to ride Ashlynn's bike

An ode to my little boy

Dancing smile and sparkling eyes

Mischief flickers when I walk by.

Loving hugs, sweet kisses galore

From the boy whom I adore.

Smart and gifted, able and and strong

God given gifts, yet still you look to belong.

Critical and sensitive, smart and brave

Approval and love do you crave.

My little boy growing into a man

For you God has a special plan.

My love for you, strong and true,

Please take it with you in whatever you do.

My little boy, of whom I'm so proud

My love you for you, always strong and loud.

Life advice from mom 12-5-17

Be a best friend,
Tell the truth,
Overuse "I love you"

Go to work.
Do you best.
Don't outsmart your common sense.

Never let your praying knees get lazy,
and Love Like Crazy.

I heard this song today.  I felt like if I had advice for you the both of you, this is perfect.
Be honest.  Work hard.  Do your best.  Be kind.  Let those you love know it.  Pray.  Trust in God, and take life by the reins.  You only get one chance.  You only get one at bat. See how much you can accomplish. Don't worry about failure.  There is no failure: you either succeed or you learn.


I love you .

Love,
Mom

Oh my little dude!  You caught wind my birthday was coming up and you have been busy "hiding" pictures you are making from me, and making me cards.

You are a complex human Jace, and I mean that in the best of ways.  You have a tough, rough and tumble exterior, but inside you are sensitive, thoughtful, and sweet.  You are always looking for approval and you are sensitive and sad when you think you don't have it.

You are in Kindergarten right now, and you have been rapidly developing some great skills.  You have recently learned how to color really nicely, and so the other day you got a coloring book and you colored a multitude of pictures that then you rolled up carefully and taped.  You put them in a shoe box and brought it to school and asked the teacher if you could pass them out to your friends.  Unfortunately for you,  the rule is if you have a gift you have to have one for everyone, but you were not deterred.  You came back home and starting diligently making more pictures.

A philanthropic heart will always serve you well Jace.  Even at times when you will seem crushed by it....even in moments when it will seem better to harden your heart and put up walls.......the essence you carry within you now is the true essence that will always serve you well.  I pray that life with all of its muddy experiences doesn't jade you from your true self.  You are sensitive and life will hurt you.  It will make you want to put up walls for protection....but the world needs more givers like you.  I hope you live a life you are proud of.  I hope you find a passion that feeds your soul and one that makes you not have to get up in the morning, but that you WANT to get up for in the morning.

I love you so much. You have so many natural talents and abilities.  You do.  Your worst adversary will always be yourself.  If you can overcome that, you will be unstoppable.

Please never stop loving.  Never stop giving.  Always do as Christ said and "Do unto others as you would have done unto you."

I love you always.  You make my heart swell with pride. 

Love,
Mom

Weekend with Daddy and GREAT parent teacher conference

It's been hard on you Jace, I know.  Daddy being sick isn't easy for anyone.  I know how badly you have wished to have your dad back because I prayed and wished just as much too. 

This past weekend you got to spend the weekend on a boys trip with you dad in the mountains.  You guys skied, bowled, went to the arcade, played video games, went swimming, went to restaurants, and daddy bought you legos and you both built a bunch of legos together.

Your smile says it all. 

In school today we had your very first parent teacher conference and the teacher showed us how you are basically above in every subject!  I'm soooo proud of you!  She said  you are fun, outgoing, and a joy to have in class.  You're a good learner too. 

You told me before you left for the weekend that "daddy was feeling better."  I'm so glad you got to have this special time.  <3

Two goals at soccer!

Oh little dude, you begged me to get you into soccer, so I asked around and finally found a place you could go that still had room since I was late to the game!

You were totally stoked to get some shin guards, and a bonus is that Papa Smith can come to all of your games!

Today when I got home from work, Daddy told me you made TWO goals!!  You are amazing!!!  So talented already. ;)  Keep working hard little dude.  The sky is the limit!

First day of Kindergarten

Today was your first day of Kindergarten pal. I would like to say I cried like all the mothers mourning this next milestone in their child's life that is taking them one step further toward adulthood; but I did not.

It's not because I don't love you.  It's because I have mourned having a little you  your entire toddler years.  I think you quite possibly were born believing your were already a man. You want man toys. You do man things, like try and fix things and figure out how they work, and learn directions, and take care of your mom.  I couldn't have sheltered you or made you a mama's boy if I tried.   You were a ship born with sails.  The only thing that has ever held you back is that pesky thing called age.

When we walked past a Kindergarten teacher last week she said hi and called you by name.  Surprised she knew you, she said oh yes.  She called you, a "little man."  Hmm.  Do you see a theme?  She said she watched you the past two years bringing up the rear as Grandma Smith walked Ashlynn to school, and you had her keys, wallet, and phone in tow. 

I've felt bad you haven't had a playmate in the neighborhood in which we live.  Sometimes I think it might be my fault you don't really know how to make friends or get a long with them.  That changed today though when I could literally see the excitement dancing in your eyes and you talked about being silly eating lunch, finding a playing with old friends from highschool, and retelling the book that was read to you in class.  I've been worried you wouldn't have good behavior.  I was worried you would rage and get "hangry."  I realize though you love a challenge.  You are goal driven.  You love a new mountain to climb, or a new puzzle to figure out.  I know school will give you these things, and I truly believe you will thrive.

In your low moments someday, I want you to read this and know that you are unstoppable.  If you feel stuck, it is because you are your own worse enemy.  Jace Cody Smith was born to keep moving forward and never stop.  Failure is a necessary step toward success, for anyone who never failed never truly tried anything new.

Harnessing you has always been my biggest challenge, and I imagine it won't change when you are an adult.  You are going to have to find a way to harness your energy, your inquisitiveness, your ingenuity, and turn it into something great. If you can do this, you will be unstoppable.

More importantly though, I posted your pictures on facebook as any proud mom would, and I followed up with this: If you see someone alone, be the one to reach out to them and talk or play with them.  You may have been born with sails, but others need more nudging to get on the ship.  That doesn't mean though, that anyone wants to be alone. 
I hope you always stay true to your good heart.  You have empathy for others and the world needs more kind people, just as much as they need smart people like you.  Lucky for you, you can be both. 

Love,
Mom