by Amanda van der Gulik
On February 1st, 2004 my son, Quinn was born after just 3 and a half quick hours of labour. He was born at home, in a birthing pool, surrounded by love. His older sister, Xanthe, just shy of two years old, was there when he was born. Such wonder, such awe!
Oddly enough, I never expected to have a boy. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to have a boy, I just honestly figured I would only ever have girls. I was raised in a house with only girls, and both times I was pregnant, my children wouldn’t let their mommy see their gender. Xanthe had her legs crossed and Quinn was snuggling with his umbilical cord. So both babies’ genders were unknown to me, yet I just felt I would always be a mother of girls.
When he arrived, I clearly remembering looking at him, full of pure love in my heart, saying outloud to him, “You’re a boy! I love you anyway!” I then looked at his daddy and thought to myself, “it’s okay, he knows about boys, he’ll help me figure him out.”
Quinn changed my life! I never in my wildest dreams ever imagined I would have a son. What a wonderful gift he has been. And oddly enough, even though in the beginning I honestly thought that I would have to ‘figure’ him out, I’ve ended up understanding him best!
Quinn has taught me patience, and a love for life. He has an incredible sense of humour and is a natural-born charmer and entrepreneur. He has taught me a lot about money too, and he’s only 10 years old this month!
I remember the first time he had his own lemonade stand, he didn’t wait for people to come and buy his lemonade, and he didn’t ask them if they wanted any either. Instead he would greet each new prospect with a huge all encompassing smile, look them right in the eye and confidently state, “Good morning, you want lemonade!”
And it worked. Every single time. No one ever questioned his confidence. He had told them they wanted lemonade, and so they did. Simple.
His attitude has taught me a lot about life. The main thing he has taught me is that you get what you choose to get in life. He chose that everyone would want his lemonade. He was absolutely determined that they would want it. He never questioned it. And so he ended up selling all of his lemonade while making every single one of his customers feel happy and satisfied.
Think about your own child now. What life lesson has he or she taught you? Make a list. And then…let them know! Just think how wonderful it would have been to have your own mother or father come to you and say, “You changed my life for the better. You have taught me so many wonderful things. Here are some of the lessons you have taught me that has made me a better person…”
Now think about how wonderful you will make your child feel when you let them know, with absolute sincerity, of all the life lessons that they have taught you that made you a better person. That your life wouldn’t be as complete, you have come this far, without them.
This month is Valentine’s Day. Why not send your child a special Valentine from you with a sweet message that tells them one of the lessons that they taught you and how that lesson has made your life better, happier.
It’s been 10 years since I was blessed with a son. He constantly inspires me and keeps me smiling. I’m so very proud of him. Quinn is a published author on Amazon, he has his own video series on YouTube and whenever he can he’ll happily set up his next lemonade stand he does so with pure enthusiasm. Quinn reminds me on a daily basis to never give up on my dreams and to expect the best in life to happen.
Next month I’ll tell you about my daugther, Xanthe, and how she too changed my life!
What a wonderful blessing it is to be a mother. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
Here’s to both your success and your child’s!
Cheers…Amanda van der Gulik…Excited Life Enthusiast! ;o)
Best-selling author, Amanda van der Gulik has been homeschooling her own two children for over 11 years and is the founder of www.TeachingChildrenAboutMoney.com. Visit Amanda’s site today to grab your FREE copy of her eBook, “50 Money Making Ideas for Kids and Teens” or her “The 6 Magical Piggy Banks” cartoon.
On February 1st, 2004 my son, Quinn was born after just 3 and a half quick hours of labour. He was born at home, in a birthing pool, surrounded by love. His older sister, Xanthe, just shy of two years old, was there when he was born. Such wonder, such awe!
Oddly enough, I never expected to have a boy. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to have a boy, I just honestly figured I would only ever have girls. I was raised in a house with only girls, and both times I was pregnant, my children wouldn’t let their mommy see their gender. Xanthe had her legs crossed and Quinn was snuggling with his umbilical cord. So both babies’ genders were unknown to me, yet I just felt I would always be a mother of girls.
When he arrived, I clearly remembering looking at him, full of pure love in my heart, saying outloud to him, “You’re a boy! I love you anyway!” I then looked at his daddy and thought to myself, “it’s okay, he knows about boys, he’ll help me figure him out.”
Quinn changed my life! I never in my wildest dreams ever imagined I would have a son. What a wonderful gift he has been. And oddly enough, even though in the beginning I honestly thought that I would have to ‘figure’ him out, I’ve ended up understanding him best!
Quinn has taught me patience, and a love for life. He has an incredible sense of humour and is a natural-born charmer and entrepreneur. He has taught me a lot about money too, and he’s only 10 years old this month!
I remember the first time he had his own lemonade stand, he didn’t wait for people to come and buy his lemonade, and he didn’t ask them if they wanted any either. Instead he would greet each new prospect with a huge all encompassing smile, look them right in the eye and confidently state, “Good morning, you want lemonade!”
And it worked. Every single time. No one ever questioned his confidence. He had told them they wanted lemonade, and so they did. Simple.
His attitude has taught me a lot about life. The main thing he has taught me is that you get what you choose to get in life. He chose that everyone would want his lemonade. He was absolutely determined that they would want it. He never questioned it. And so he ended up selling all of his lemonade while making every single one of his customers feel happy and satisfied.
Think about your own child now. What life lesson has he or she taught you? Make a list. And then…let them know! Just think how wonderful it would have been to have your own mother or father come to you and say, “You changed my life for the better. You have taught me so many wonderful things. Here are some of the lessons you have taught me that has made me a better person…”
Now think about how wonderful you will make your child feel when you let them know, with absolute sincerity, of all the life lessons that they have taught you that made you a better person. That your life wouldn’t be as complete, you have come this far, without them.
This month is Valentine’s Day. Why not send your child a special Valentine from you with a sweet message that tells them one of the lessons that they taught you and how that lesson has made your life better, happier.
It’s been 10 years since I was blessed with a son. He constantly inspires me and keeps me smiling. I’m so very proud of him. Quinn is a published author on Amazon, he has his own video series on YouTube and whenever he can he’ll happily set up his next lemonade stand he does so with pure enthusiasm. Quinn reminds me on a daily basis to never give up on my dreams and to expect the best in life to happen.
Next month I’ll tell you about my daugther, Xanthe, and how she too changed my life!
What a wonderful blessing it is to be a mother. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
Here’s to both your success and your child’s!
Cheers…Amanda van der Gulik…Excited Life Enthusiast! ;o)
Best-selling author, Amanda van der Gulik has been homeschooling her own two children for over 11 years and is the founder of www.TeachingChildrenAboutMoney.com. Visit Amanda’s site today to grab your FREE copy of her eBook, “50 Money Making Ideas for Kids and Teens” or her “The 6 Magical Piggy Banks” cartoon.
