Good Touch, Bad Touch Talk With Your Kids

Let's talk about different kinds of touches. There are good touches and bad touches. A good touch is something like a high five! How does it make you feel when someone gives you a high five? Happy! That's right! Can you think of some other good touches? (Hugs, tickles, holding hands) You know that a touch is good when it makes you feel happy inside. What about when someone hits you, how does that make you feel? Right, sad. What other kinds of touches make us sad? (Kicking, punching, pushing). Is it ever ok for someone to give you a bad touch and make you sad? No! Because you are so special and nobody should ever hurt you! What should you do if someone hurts you? Tell someone! Who could you tell? (Parents, teachers, police man) These are good people who want to keep you safe and happy. We all want to make sure that nobody gives you bad touches and hurts you. 

I also want to talk to you about a word that you might know, the word is "private". Do you know what that means? It means something that's very special to you that you don't have to share with anyone else. Most things we have to share, but some things are so special that we get to keep them all to ourselves, isn't that cool? Can you think of anything that might be private? A special toy maybe? 

Did you know that certain parts of our body are private? There are parts of you that you don't share with anyone else, they are called private parts. They are the parts of your body covered up by a bathing suit. Even when we go swimming we cover up our private parts because they are so special and not for sharing. Do you think it would be okay if someone wanted to touch your private parts? No silly! (smile and be relaxed) That's because they are private and not for sharing. What do you think you should do if someone tried to touch your private parts? Say, "No way! That's not for sharing!" Can you try to say that with me? (Have fun doing a big attitude with a hand up, help them feel strong.) Good! Then who could you tell? That's right!

I'm so proud of you and how strong you are! You don't let anybody hurt you, right? You don't let anybody hurt you or give you bad touches to make you sad, right? Because I'm always here to protect you that's my job. 

Hey girls! I found this song awhile ago and if we ever get a chance to do a girls thing in New York, we are seeing Wicked on Broadway!!! Anyway, every time I hear this song I think of my relationship with Dad, and the course it's taken, and where it is now. If you get the chance to listen to the song, you definitely should. Or if you are already familiar, great! I cry almost every time I sing along to it. :) Love you guys!

I've heard it said,
That people come into our lives
For a reason
Bringing something we must learn.
And we are lead to those
Who help us most to grow if we let them.
And we help them in return.
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you.

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun,
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood.
Who can say if I've been changed for the better
But because I knew you.
I have been changed for good.

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime.
So, let me say before we part:
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you.
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart.
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have rewritten mine
By being my friend.

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea.
Like a seed dropped by a sky bird
In a distant wood.
Who can say if I've been changed for the better
But because I knew you...

Because I knew you...

I have been changed for good.

And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done,
You blamed me for.

But then,
I guess,
We know there's blame to share.

And none of it seems to matter anymore.
Like a comet pulled from orbit
(Like a ship blown from its mooring)
As it passes a sun.
(By a wind off the sea)
Like a stream that meets a boulder
(Like a seed dropped by bird)
Halfway through the wood.
(In the wood)
Who can say if I've been changed for the better.
I do believe I have been changed for the better.

And because I knew you...

Because I knew you...

Because I knew you
I have been changed...
For good.

Ego and Essence

I want to start a comment thread about Ego and Essence. I want to hear if you guys have any "ah-ha" moments as you try to implement it into your life. (Quick background: Ego is the external you, the worldly, prideful, offense taking, defensive, insecure, depressed, worried, angry side of you. Essence is who you have always been, the divine son/daughter of God.)

One thing I realized tonight is that Ego feeds on the energy of conflict, complaints, and worries. Without that food, Ego becomes depressed.

I think I find things to worry about or I pick a fight because I feel depressed and need the energy from tackling another "crisis". I have a lot of practice ahead of me to just be... and just be happy. Whether there are problems to tackle or not.

Anyone learn something about themselves?