Human Nature ...

I love to watch people... I remember when I was younger, my friends and I would go to the mall and just sit and watch people, when I am in a restaurant I love to listen to the conversations going on around me... (I know that one is a little creepy :) I just find people interesting. Because of my years of people watching I have decided that human nature is an interesting thing. I see and meet incredibley arrogant and rude people and I think to myself "really? What do you have to be so arrogant about", some times if I am not careful, I will actually think out loud!! Then I see people who bury their heads in the sand and want to blame everyone else for the problems in life instead of taking any responsibility. I see people who go through amazingly hard trials and come out smiling on the other end and think... wow! I see people who quietly go around helping others without ever wanting recognition... that's just who they are. I know people who think theirs is the only opinion that matters and others who never voice theirs for fear of a confrontation. I know amazingly hard working people... who just need to catch a break, but continue to give it their all until that opportunity arises. I know lazy people who ride on others coat tails. I see clean freaks and those much less so! All of these human traits combine in interesting ways and make very interesting (and yes, sometimes really annoying) people.
What interests me the most is what I make with the ones that I have in me and those that my kids and husband have. I think it is always easier to see in others things that need to be improved on and also those things that are amazing. But how many of us can look at ourselves and acknowledge the good, bad and the ugly? I think that I am pretty good at seeing the things in myself that are not so fabulous and need to be worked on and if I am not, I have a great family that feels free to point them out! (My parents have never been afraid to let me know when I am not acting in an acceptable manner and usually have done it in a very loving way. The funny thing is that I am 41 and they still do it... but once a parent always a parent!!) I know that I try to help my kids know that being pouty and snotty or mean are not the ways to win friends and influence people - I think it is hard to watch your kids fight the daily battles of life and not step in to save the day, so to speak... but I also think it is important to not enable the bad behavior that teaches them that it is okay to be a brat and that is how you get your way. (I think way to many parents now  days enable their kids to be 'brats') So when things aren't going their way, I try to help them see the things about them that they can change for a different result instead of putting the blame on those around them. (Don't get me wrong... there are things that happen that quickly bring out the momma bear in me and I am the first person to come to their defense!) Isn't parenthood fun?! I often find that I can hear my Heavenly Father talking to me about my behavior as I am talking to my kids about theirs!! I guess in the end, we all have to learn for ourselves... I just hope I can be the cheerleader my kids need as well as the voice of reason when it's needed too!
I am lucky to have had both those things in my life! So as I end these rambling thoughts... thanks mom and dad for being the very best parents and for raising a super fabulous and amazing kid! ;) (I will leave it at that so that everyone can think I am talking about them!!:)