Prioritize Relationships

I gave our daughter Penny two choices for her senior year spring break—the Bahamas (where she has always wanted to go) or Atlanta. She chose Atlanta because going to Atlanta meant hanging out with—and interning with and enjoying—friends from Hope Heals Camp.

The past few days in Atlanta have reminded me that the most important gift we can give ourselves and our children is relationships. Relationships matter.

I don’t have lots of regrets as a parent, but when I look back on these past 18 years of parenting Penny, I do wish we had done more on a regular basis to connect our family to other people. That could have been inviting kids over to our house when Penny was younger, volunteering to host class gatherings, or making time just to walk around in our community and engage with people.

I’m so grateful for the relationships we do have, and I see now that those relationships matter even more than the skills Penny was developing by going to therapist appointments or doing her homework or practicing piano. All of those things are great, but with limited time, I’ve learned to choose relationships first.

We’re going to talk about this and all sorts of other things in my upcoming (live, virtual) workshop, Reimagining Family Life with Disability. I’d love to see you there.

REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOP!

Penny stands in a terminal with colorful buildings out the window. Her hand is guiding a suitcase Penny and a group of friends from Hope Heals give each other a group hug Penny and a friend from Hope Heals give each other a big hug Penny and a friend from Hope Heals give each other a big hug Penny stands next to Katherine Wolf, who is using a wheelchair. They are being interviewed inside Mend Coffee and Goods Penny stands next to Katherine Wolf, who is using a wheelchair. They are being interviewed inside Mend Coffee and Goods Penny and Katherine Wolf from Hope Heals Penny sits in a chair smiling at the camera and holding a drink in her hand Penny is under the covers at a hotel and is reading the book Hope Heals

MORE WITH AMY JULIA:

Workshop: Reimagining Family Life with DisabilityBook: A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny Provide Opportunities, Assume Possibility

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Published on April 18, 2024 23:17
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