Being a parent means that my personal life will change. Much like when you get married, becoming a mother means friends start to drop off for whatever reason. Now that I'm a mom, a new string of people have come into my life and some have left with no looking back. I can tell you that in the process I've learned that there are a lot of "fraud friends" out there and only a few real ones. "Fraud friends" are those friends have one foot in and one foot out, never truly putting their hearts into the relationship. Well, it has only happened a couple times in my life and while it's disappointing, I certainly don't welcome just anyone in my family's life. It just leaves a mess behind.
What I have found and hope to instill in my children is that there are some really good people out there. Friends that you meet at different stages of your life that understand what it means to be a good friend. Like any meaningful relationship, friendship requires commitment and acceptance. If anything, friendships can endure just about anything. I just have to make sure that everyone that I expose my children to are good, kind, loving people. In addition, I want them to meet people of all cultures, beliefs - I don't want to show them only a small glimpse of the world, I want to show them all the beauty and difference the world has to offer and then give them the tools to enjoy and learn.
It's a shame to meet people that live in their own bubble - afraid to open their minds and hearts. The world is only beautiful when difference is applied. It would be a terribly boring place if all there was was black and white - or worse ... gray! A world of color and unique difference is truly a joy. Religion, politics, all of those major differences shouldn't tear people apart. It should be a springboard to learn about other beliefs and learn to embrace and respect them. Just because we see one way doesn't mean our eyes are glued shut, unable to to learn to see more clearly - with an open mind and a kind heart.
My job as a mother is to show my children that difference is beauty. I want them to understand the intricacies and beauty of other cultures, the knowledge behind beliefs, the corruption and hope in politics, the love and hate in religion. If you understand the world by experiencing it, the world is a joyous place to dwell, filled with possibility and uncompromising beauty.
