Monday, November 15, 2010

Beauty in the World

Being the mother of a smart, head-strong only child, there are some lessons I learned early in the name of self-preservation. Of all those lessons, the most important by far was, and still is quite simple:  I'm the adult and I'm in charge.  This rule is absolute, irrefutable, and forever.  There is one adult and one non-adult.  It's my house, my money, my rules.  The. End.

Maybe this sounds awfully strict.  Maybe it sounds harsh.  Maybe it sounds like a dictatorship.  My response to those criticism would be:  1. not at all, 2. it really isn't, and, 3. You're darn right it is.  But let me tell you something:  at the end of the day, it makes life much easier.

This isn't to say that over the years she hasn't tried asking, begging, pouting, crying, persuasive arguments, debate, suggesting, cleverly manipulating, not-so-cleverly manipulating, and having an out-and-out tantrum in order to get attention.  But because I established VERY EARLY that I knew how she operated and that all this nonsense was a complete waste of time, breath and creativity, she stopped.  Why?  Because she wasn't going to get her way.  Now, this isn't to say that I haven't watched her pull it on others whenever she thought she could get away with it. She is very good at recognizing weakness in others.

Being on the receiving end of this behavior, I understand how people give in.  It's so much easier to stop the noise and whining and arguing by simply throwing up your hands and caving in.  But the minute you say, "OK you win, I give up" is the minute you have scheduled for yourself a lifetime of repeat performances.

No thank you.

Standing my ground with a two year old resulted in a tumultuous period, but it sure was easier when she was two and I was a lot older than two, because I was the adult and she was the child.  And today?  I'm still the adult, and she is still the not-adult, but we are both clear on the ground rules that no matter what, we always treat each other with love, compassion and respect. 

This week there is a bit of an uproar in my neighborhood.  I'm not going to mention it by name, pen diatribes or howl at the moon, because that's the response they want.  Instead I'm going to spend my week showing love, compassion and respect.  I've never been moved or swayed by a temper tantrum (except to be terribly annoyed), so this week I'll be over here in my corner of the Internet, celebrating the good stuff that's all around us. There IS beauty in the world, and I'm so grateful that I'm adult enough to see it, embrace it and share it. 

Happy Monday.









I know you’re fed up
Life don't let up for us.
All they talk about is What is going down?
What’s been messed up for us?
When I look around I see blue skies
I see butterflies for us
Listen to the sound and lose it in sweet music 
and dance with me

There is beauty in the world
So much beauty in the world
Always beauty in the world
So much beauty in the world
Shake your booty boys and girls for the beauty in the world
Pick your diamond pick your pearl there is beauty in the world
All together now

We need more lovin’
We need more money, they say
Change is gonna come
Like the weather
They say forever
They say
So baby in between
Notice the blue skies
Notice the butterflies
Notice me
Stop and smell the flowers
And lose it in sweet music and dance with me

There is beauty in the world
So much beauty in the world
Always beauty in the world
There is beauty in the world
Shake your booty boys and girls for the beauty in the world
Pick your diamond pick your pearl there is beauty in the world
All together now

Heya throw your hands up and holla
Throw your hands up and holla
When you don’t know what to do
Don’t know if you’ll make it through
Remember that He's giving you beauty in the world

So love (Beauty in the world)
Yeah love (Beauty in the world)
There is beauty in the world (Beauty in the world)
Beauty in the world (Beauty in the world)
Shake your booty boys and girls (Boys and Girls)
All the beauty in the world (Beauty in the world)
Pick your diamond pick your pearl (Pick your pearl)
There is beauty in the world (Beauty in the world)
All together now

Yeah love
Yeah love
Oh love
All together now
Hey baby when I’m looking at you
I know this fact is true
There is hope for love
There is beauty in the world
Hey baby
Hey baby when I’m looking at you
I know this vibe is true
There’s love
There’s hope for love
There’s beauty in the world

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