Adara Aphrodite

Of course it's been too long. So let me just pop right in before they're already off to school, and I failed to record the whole of their toddlerhood. Adara. What can I say about this loving little one? Well, let me say that first. Love. That seems to be her theme. (Maybe it's a Libra thing; being ruled by Aphrodite bestows some special gifts, after all.) She is the one who tells everything and everyone she loves them. The cats, kittens, the flowers, the trees, family members, friends, large and small bodies of water, her house, her dolls, the characters in books (remember she showed an early proclivity toward this by kissing the characters in books)...the list goes on and on. Today she got down and attempted to hug a puddle of water- which she had been playing in, and had clearly bonded with- when it was time to go. And, of course, she told it she loved it. But if, as Mr. Emoto implies in The Hidden Messages in Water, all water on earth is connected (and even comes from elsewhere in the universe) and that if one directs positive messages toward it (namely those of love and gratitude) that the water will carry and reflect that- then, well, then Adara is certainly doing her part to make the world a better place.

Even when I get mad at her, or I'm reprimanding her for some transgression, she will pause, quell her rebellion and say earnestly (and maybe, at times, coyly?) "Love you, Mama." And what parent can resist that? Instant melt and forgiveness. I dare say that will be one of her strengths. And it says a lot for effective dealings with one's fellows (and human nature). For Aenaon never takes that tone. He ups his rebellion in the face of confrontation. He's even taken to spitting and yelling "No!", which only infuriates me further. (I fear I am more like Aenaon in nature and/or temperament; definitely in my innate sense of rebellion, and wanting to do things my way.) But I must say, that when presented with these two very different responses the "love you" way, changes the whole scenario and emotion entirely, and the "No!...[and I'll spit in your face way]" definitely ups the aggression level. So, perhaps Hobbes was entirely wrong. And that, even when we, as human beings, appear to have a natural proclivity toward warring with one another, that it's really more about defense and response than it is about our nature, and true desires, per se. But most of us, when we feel threatened, defend harder, and it's the rare few who can tap into their love at that moment, and diffuse all the tension in the situation. Perhaps we'd all like to, but those of us with higher testosterone levels, and/or more adrenaline tend to "flood" and not be able to step back from the confrontation, and think about the greater good, and our higher goal and purpose and connection, here, as human beings on this earth.

Well, needless to say, I learn so much about myself, and life, and love and human nature through my relationship with my children. And it's no simple stuff, either.

Well, that's it for now. There will be more to come. I promise!