Friday Focus 11/11/16 – Choosing love and kindness

This week feels very much like it has been overshadowed by the election of the US President. I woke at 2.30am on Wednesday morning, looked at my phone for the latest news – and never managed to go back to sleep.  Just like Brexit all over again really – that horrible feeling of wondering where this is all going to go and fearing for the world in which my girls will be growing up.  Two days on, having managed to have a decent night’s sleep since, I’m feeling a little more hopeful.  I can’t change the world, I can’t change the big things that will happen – but I can change my response to the world and I can make a difference in my own little world.  I can choose love and I can choose kindness – and I can make sure that my girls know that those are the things that really matter.

Overshadowed - this week's word of the week

 

Things I have loved this week:

  • Going shopping for ballet outfits for the girls.

Jessica and Sophie trying on their ballet outfits

  • Seeing how much Sophie loved her first ballet class and Jessica’s excitement about having her first class later today.
  • Hubby being home in time to help with bedtime (it doesn’t happen very often and it’s much appreciated when it does!)
  • Watching hubby dancing with our girls whilst watching Strictly.

  • Getting a glowing report about Jessica at our first parents’ evening – to be told that our little girl is happy and friendly, doesn’t let her heart condition hold her back and is doing very well with her reading and maths skills made me incredibly proud.
  • Seeing how much Jessica is enjoying bringing books home from school and starting to be able to read some of the words herself.

 

The Reading Residence

22 thoughts on “Friday Focus 11/11/16 – Choosing love and kindness

  1. Oh that’s lovely, I’m so glad parents evening went well. We have one in a couple of weeks, it’s quite nerve wracking isn’t it?? They look adorable in their ballet kit.
    Nat.x

    1. Thank you Nat – it was quite nerve-racking but so lovely to hear that she is doing so well. Hope all goes well with your parents’ evening in a couple of weeks x

  2. I wrote a similar post this week, we can’t change the world but we can be the change we want to see and show our children that. It’s lovely watching children learn how to read isn’t it, I can’t believe how much Daisy has improved since just September it’s amazing. #WotW

    1. It’s such an important thing to show our children, isn’t it – that we can be the change we want to see in the world. So glad that Daisy is improving in her reading too – it is lovely to see them enjoying it 🙂

  3. Loving the photos of the girls in their ballet leotards 🙂 But yes, I know the feeling. My sentiments exactly. But I’m trying not to think about it anymore and just focus on T 🙂 #wotw

  4. This is a great way to look at things….Choosing love and kindness is really all that matters!
    Aww! Your girls in their ballet outfits are just adorable.
    Well done Jessica. It sounds like she is doing brilliantly at school….You have every reason to be proud! x

    1. Thank you Kim – it’s so lovely to hear that Jessica is doing so well in school 🙂

  5. Yeah it’s a difficult one isn’t it? Hard to believe but utterly out of our control. I guess all we can do now is get on with our lives while we wait with some trepidation to see where it all leads :/ love the shots of your girls in their ballet outfits, adorable! Xxx

  6. That’s exactly the attitude I have adopted, too, to both Brexit and this latest news. What can we do but get on and play our part as positively as we can? You’re right. Oh, and your girls look so adorable in their outfits! Thanks for sharing with #WotW x

    1. Thanks Jocelyn – there isn’t much we can do to change big world events but plenty we can do to make our own little worlds a happier place. Always lovely to link up to #WotW 🙂

  7. Louise,

    “Be the change you wish to see.” Gandhi may or may not have said it, but it is sound advice.
    Something else I heard way back when: “Things rarely turn out so bad, or so good, as we expect them to.”

  8. Well done girls it sounds like they have had a fab week, and try not to worry, I may be wrong but look at Obama he never had ultimate power or guns would have been banned! So there are people behind the scenes vetting every decision. I cant get my head around the decision and such great shoes to fill but it will sort itself out. It always does. xxx

  9. I completely agree with you, Louise. We watched the election and felt horrified, drained by the result (and for staying up most of the night) but I believe there is enough love and desire for a united world that people around the President Elect will temper & hamper what are some pretty awful actions he’s claimed. But we can promote positive hope, love and unity at home and hopefully this next generation we’re rearing will learn from these mistakes and not make them again.
    Your week does sound positive and I love your video – I think the scenes of dancing at home to Strictly happen all over the country on a Saturday night. They do in our house, too!
    Your girls look great in their Ballet outfits, I hope they enjoy their lessons.
    xx
    Have a lovely week
    #WoTW

    1. Thanks Tracey – love that your children also enjoyed dancing at home to Strictly – definitely one of my favourite moments of the weekend. Hope you are having a lovely week too x

  10. It’s lovely to read of the values you are trying to instil in your little ones and reflect back over the week with all the lovely things you’ve done. #WotW

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