Did I make you proud today?  

When I think about whether I am happy with my day, my week, my year, my life - I now think about it through the eyes of my four year old. From the way I speak, to the way I spend my time, to how I treat others - will Jack be proud to call me his mom?

Thinking about my actions through Jack’s eyes has moved me in unexpected directions. It forced me to get honest about my marriage and whether the relationship was one I wanted to model for Jack, and whether change could happen. It reminds me to be silly - both with him and alone. I dance, make funny faces, and sometimes even pretend I’m a garbage truck scooping up my kid and throwing him into the “trash” (i.e., the couch or bed). It reminds me to take care of my health and his. 

Seeing my actions through Jack’s eyes reminds me to model what it means to me to live a good life.

Now and years from now, Jack won’t care how much money I had, what my title was at work, or whether I had a tight stomach. He’ll care about how I showed up in this world. And if I did my job right, I hope he’ll be proud.