I Want to Live with the Confidence of a Five-Year-Old

I want to live with the confidence of a five-year-old.
That thought flitted through my mind while my grandson hauled out his art supplies the day before Halloween.
“I’m turning the kitchen into a haunted house because I just learned how to draw cats,“ he informed me as held up a picture. “I can draw them really good.”
The picture above this post is one his cats. At first glance, I thought it was a sheep.
He was so confident in his drawing ability, he took a break from creating masterpieces and gave his little sister a tutorial in how to make them.
She was awestruck by his skill. “Your pictures are beautiful,” she breathed.
I was awestruck by his confidence. “How did he develop such self-assurance?” I wondered.
He drew picture after picture, blazing through paper and tape as he hung them from every available space. I could see how the love his parents speak into him every day is building him up.
Tell us how that made you feel.
We love you because you are our little boy.
You’re a good problem solver. You keep trying until you figure it out.
Look at all the things you’ve learned to do.
We are so glad to be your parents.
Even when my grandson is at his worse, and his parents hold him accountable for his behavior, they cover him with kindness and love.
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By Jolene
Jolene Philo is the author of the Different Dream series for parents of kids with special needs. She speaks at parenting and special needs conferences around the country. She’s also the creator and host of the Different Dream website. Sharing Love Abundantly With Special Needs Families: The 5 Love Languages® for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities, which she co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman, was released in August of 2019 and is available at local bookstores, their bookstore website, and at Amazon.
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