By Heidi Powell
Motherhood. One simple word that means so many things: nurturer, chauffeur, teacher, owie kisser, playmate, psychiatrist, hug giver, coach, and mediator…the list is pretty much endless. So what does this word mean to me? So much more than I ever envisioned, and I am extremely blessed to be Matix, Marley, Cash, and Ruby’s mom. I feel so deeply my kids’ joys, pains, and disappointments… and I must admit, I sometimes feel a lot of guilt because so much of my time is spent helping others, not just them. So how do I balance the craziness of our life with striving to be the best mom possible to these four amazing kids? Here are the five guiding principles I follow as a mother:
Lead By Example
The best way to teach is to lead by example. If I want my kids to be kind, loving, respectful, honest, hard working, and all-around good people, I need to exemplify these qualities in my own life. It’s also a priority for me to teach my kids how to take good care of their bodies so they can better fulfill all their goals in life. And while I’m far from perfect, I hope they see that when I do fall, I get right back up and try again, and again, and again. One of my favorite Chinese proverbs is “Fall down seven times, get up eight.”
Find and Follow Your Passions
I have been so blessed to be able to turn my passion—helping others transform their lives—into my life’s work, which has also allowed me to provide for my kids not only financially, but hopefully in other ways as well. I try to involve my kids as much as possible in my work so they can see first-hand the joy that comes from using their unique talents to bless their own lives and the lives of everyone around them. I never want my kids to allow money or social pressure to dictate their careers. I want them to find and then follow their passions, no matter the financial compensation. My late father always told me “do something you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” I can hardly call what I do “work,” and I can only hope and pray my kids follow in our footsteps.
Fill Someone’s Bucket Every Day
“Have you filled someone’s bucket today?” is a pretty common question around our home. I want my kids to know there is truly no greater feeling than serving others—filling their buckets—and when they do help others, they’re actually adding to their own buckets as well. And it’s an awesome way to put their problems into the proper perspective too. (If you have never read the book Have You Filled Someone’s Bucket Today? you should quickly find a copy and keep it around for bedtime stories. You will be glad you did).
It’s All About Family
My kids are blessed with an awesome family made up of more than just those linked to us through our DNA. I want my kids to strive to treat every member of our family (blood relatives and adopted “peeps/friends” family) with unconditional love and compassion. I hope that through the time Mom and Dad spend helping so many people with so many unique issues, my kids will recognize that each person is important, valuable and loveable—blood family or not – just like they are!
Kids Are Teachers Too!
I learn so much from my kids. They teach me patience, unconditional love, and the importance of truly listening. They remind me to slow down and be present in the moment—to “stop and smell the roses” by playing with blocks, working on inventions, reading books, sitting and cuddling together, and so many other simple things. As I look at the world through their eyes, they remind me of what is truly important.
As I finish typing this, tears are rolling down my cheeks. These little human beings can make me cry more than anything else in the world. My heart is so full of gratitude and appreciation for them. If I could only slow down time…I think I would pay any amount of money in the world for this.
My hope and my dream for my babies is that they see their own value. They see how special they are, and that they always, know how loved (and loveable) they truly are.
“Mom” is the biggest responsibility I have. And I don’t take it lightly.
Heidi Powell is the trainer and transformation specialist from ABC’s “Extreme Weight Loss,” which will premiere on May 27th on ABC.
