Earlier this year I asked my two sweet - still small children and my husband what they thought to be the most important word for our family, a word that represents what we believe and what is most important to us. Immediately, they both said “love.” I asked my husband for a word for the two of us this year as a reminder of what we need as we engage with our growing children and continue to embrace parenting and the changing world around us. After some thinking, he chose "breathe.”

These words now sit on our mantel*- impossible to miss. They have become a part of our every day language that we take with us wherever we go and having them loud and clear in our home gives us a visual touch stone that reminds us of how we want to live together in our home and out in the world.

Since finishing this project, these words have helped me to-

Sit with each of the kids when they first wake in the morning, if only for a minute to hold them close before I head out to work.
Hold myself in moments of impatience and pause to check in on what matters most in the moment.
Remind my kids when sibling strife strikes that in our family we act with love (cue frantic pointing to the words).
Practice these intentions by keeping these words close as we engage with the world around us.

“Love is the voice under all silences, the hope which has no opposite in fear; the strength so strong mere force is feebleness: the truth more first than sun, more last than star…” – E.E. Cummings

*Art pieces are originals created by the talented Avo Ink framed by Framebridge with turntabs. Plants and pots are local from the The Zen Succulent. This family activity was inspired by work I have done with Rock Your Bliss.

Words