Friday, August 26, 2011

Our trip to Disney...

Hi Max!

The terrible twos evolve into the trying threes don't they? :) Max's favorite word of the week was "No!" With that being said (often :), Max had a terrific time meeting his favorite Disney characters. We have the most incredible book of pictures with signatures! Also, my next post will be a few photos from our trip! We are watching Hurricane Irene tear up the east coast of the United States on television in preparation for leaving tomorrow.

Really... if I had to boil the week down to one lesson it is one that I know well and always need to be reminded of: LOVE is spelled TIME to a child.

Blessings,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Resilience... From Enabling to Empowering...

Hi Max!

Amy Stoehr sends out a motivational e-mail occasionally and I really enjoyed her words today and I can't wait for you to reflect on this later. You'll maybe understand better why I push you at times to do things on your own, to get back up, to not quit... I don't want to enable you. I want to empower you. Here's what she wrote...

"I read a blog today about teaching your kids resilience. Essentially, the message was, don't prevent your kids from falling down. Instead, teach them how to get back up and continue on.

Two memories came to mind - the first, a time six years ago when I was out on roller skates (that's right, skates, not blades) and I completely "yard saled" in front of my house. I got up, came in the house, picked as much asphalt as I could out of my knee, and... here's the awareness: never roller skated again. In fact, I sold the skates at a garage sale.

The second time was two years ago when I slipped on ice at a retreat and suffered a spiral break of my distal fibula. My first bone break, I thought it was just a sprained ankle. Long story short I spent eight weeks in a cast. Instead of giving up, though, I greeted the incident with optimism and continued on. I rented a "rollabout" because I had to be non-weight-bearing for four of those eight weeks.

When you fall down, in business and in life, how do you respond? Do you "sell the skates" and walk away? Or do you get back up, and find a new way of going?

Make it your best day yet!

Amy Stoehr"


I'm here to help you get back up, persevere, and go farther. I love you and will always support you, lift you, inspire you, motivate you... I'm here for you, not to do it for you, but to help you do what you do.

Blessings,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

ALL DAY... ALMOST... :)

Hi Max!

Here was my message to my FB friends tonight: "We were celebrating Max Maher's first full day wearing big-boy pants without an accident. We were jumping around, dancing, yelling and screaming, having a great time and then, as if to help us appreciate the moment... a little puddle forms on the floor below him. +m2 P.S. We moved a little and kept dancing. I think I might have tickled him too much."

You were so close! You're getting there buddy - and I love you!

Blessings,

Max's Dad (Michael)