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Liner notes 11-15
11. Save the day with laughter. Another great grandma Brockbank classic, her mothering motto can apply to so many situations. And your laugh is particularly contagious...
12. Everyone feels shy/awkward/insecure sometimes, especially in new situations. Introduce yourself, smile, shake hands, make eye contact.
13. Offer to help with the dishes. You'll be amazed at the effect on roommates and (eventually) potential in-laws.
14. It's not all about you. To find yourself, lose yourself.
15. Any sentence that begins "no offense but..." or "I hope this doesn't offend anyone..." probably will. Be thoughtful about whether you need to say it at all.
. . .
With the first of my children leaving home in the next few months, I'm writing occasional Liner Notes, bits of advice to my kids concerning my take on how to be a gracious, awesome grown-up-type person (both trivial bits and major advice). Why "liner notes"? Because, back in the day, I pored over the liner notes of my cds, curious to find the story behind the music. That's what I hope this will be: the story behind the music of growing up and setting off on your own. (Or at least a ready-made catalog of how you can avoid making my mistakes.) Feel free to chime in! What would you add?
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Reader Comments (4)
Can you be my mom?
One of my new years resolutions was to laugh more, I think I need to try harder at that one.
My mission president always used to tell us that when we feel insecure in a situation we need to focus on helping the other(s) feel secure. I think that one also helps with losing yourself.
One of my neighbors starts sentences with the "no offense but" and I've had to realize that sometimes information that you think is helpful is just gossip. So I never pass it on because I've seen how others get hurt by this.
I want to be first in line to inherit your girls' amazing modest dress collection for my growing girls.
Your daughters would be beautiful in paper bags, but the dresses... wow!
On (15), my wife and I once took a marriage enhancement class, where the professor warned that ANY sentence that includes the word "BUT" basically translates to "ignore everything that came before the 'but'..."
"I'd love to clean the kitchen, but...", "That dress looks great on you, but...", "Sure his parents are out of town, but...", and so on. It's the word that looks for exceptions.
I have been cautious about that caveat word ever since.
That is a great pic of L and G. Love the laughter, the movement, and I second the comment on the dress. She is so beautiful.
And can I just say how much I am loving these liner notes? Please tell me you're going to get them all bound together in one book, right? If not for L, then for me? :-)