The focus, the joy, the creative energy, the excitement that comes over her when she paints – it is just so satisfying to witness.

And she is good at it. In a 3-year-old sort of way. At least I think she is – though I’m her parent, so obviously biased.

I try not to tell her that though. Instead, I tell her just how much I love to watch her paint, watch her create, watch her focus and do something that she loves.

One of my all time favorite blogs wrote a piece that has stuck with me since the moment I read it – about an article from The Post Game.

In this article, college athletes were asked what their parents said that made them feel great, that amplified their joy during and after a ballgame.

Their overwhelming response: “I love to watch you play.”

There is a subtle, but important, shift in focus here –  away from emphasizing how “good” our kids are at something, to instead focus more importantly on the fact that they are learning, growing, focusing, following a passion, working through something challenging, etc.

And so I say, I love to watch you paint, play, climb, try something new, challenge yourself, and be utterly and always my amazing little lady.