Ariaism

Shelby here, hijacking the blog again.

Last night I gathered the children together to share something very special with them. Something that has been an important influence for good in my life. Something filled with wisdom and mirth that has carried me through tough times. Something that only comes on TV during the first part of December.

I'm talking about that yuletide classic, "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer."

If you think I'm joking about how influential that movie has been for me, you've obviously never heard me reassure my wife in moments of codependence, "let's be independent together." Or bad-mouthed a cranky child by teasing, "Hermie doesn't like to make toys." And you've probably never seen me cry when talking about the Island of Misfit Toys, home to the wonderful toys who have been shunned because they don't work quite like others expect them too. Think about what I do for a living and you'll realize why, though it sounds absurd, I'm not kidding. I bawl every time.

The movie taught be such life lessons at a tender age, which is why I was so eager to share it with my children.

So there I was, holding Aria next to me when Rudolph was suddenly rejected for his shiny nose, rejected by all, that is, but the lovely Clarice, who reassured him, "there's always tomorrow for dreams to come true."

Because Aria has had a rough time lately with being good for Christmas, I took this opportunity to teach her that tomorrow will always be another day, filled with opportunities for change and even for dreams to come true.

Dad: "Who knows what tomorrow will be like, Aria? Even if you've had a terrible day and gotten into lots of trouble, tomorrow might be the best day of your life."

Aria: "The best day - of my life!?"

Dad: "Yes, you never know when your dreams will come true. Tomorrow might be the day when everything turns out just the way you've dreamed."

Aria: "Yes! There will be pink, sparkly ice cream!"

We all learn life's lessons at our own pace, I guess.