Were you as shocked as me to hear the news of Whitney Houston’s death this weekend? Even though I was well aware of her struggles, I still couldn’t believe it when I heard she was gone. And like any mother, the first thing I thought of when I heard the news was her poor daughter.
As the story has been developing, it’s not been that big of a surprise to hear that Bobbi Kristina is taking her mother’s death pretty hard. After all, she is just 18 and according to multiple sources she was very close with her mom.
It’s sad that it takes a tragedy of this magnitude to remind us how precious life is and how tomorrow is never promised, but since Whitney’s passing I’ve been making a conscious effort to tell my daughter all those things I’d want her to know should I die tomorrow. I know it’s kind of morbid and I’m probably turning her into the most mushy kid ever, but here are a few things you should consider telling your kid every day, if you don’t already.
1. I love you. I know most of us already tell our kids this, but that doesn’t mean we can’t say it more. Or in new ways. And don’t forget to load on the kisses before and after.
2. You are amazing. You’ll probably have to tell your toddler what this means, but the key is to tell your little one everything that makes him/her special. Whether he’s funny or smart or caring, make sure your kid knows he’s extraordinary.
3. You make me so happy. Because us moms can get a little stressed out and tend to do our fair share of yelling, it’s important to remind our kids that they really do make us happy. Even if you’ve got crayon to clean off the wall and piles of laundry to wash, put on a smile and tell your kids how happy you are to have them in your life.
4. You are the best thing that ever happened to me. I actually stole this from a Ray LaMontagne song, but I play–and sing–it for my daughter regularly. It’s a beautiful love song and the chorus perfectly describes how I feel about my daughter.
5. I’m so proud of you. Sure your toddler may not be bringing home straight As or scoring winning goals yet, but when she ties her own shoe laces or goes to the potty all by herself, praise her accomplishments. Nothing is better than a seal of approval from mommy.
Anything else you’d add to the list? What should we be telling our kids every day? Share in the comments.
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