Virtuous woman

Raising four girls is no easy task.  Raising four girls who learn to speak kindly to themselves is not an easy task either, especially in this world we live in.  So, in order to help the girls be in the habit of thinking kindly and speaking kindly of themselves, we started a new little "tradition" about 3 or 4 months ago.  While I comb the girls' hair, they tell me three things they love about themselves.  This gives them a chance to look at themselves each morning and think about how great they are.  Sometimes they aren't thrilled by my crazy routine and get mad when I remind them.  Sometimes they say the same three things, "I'm nice.  I have good friends.  I have a good family."  Those are good things but I love it when I hear them say, "i love that I help others.  I love that I am a good friend.  I love that I am doing good at math!"  On the weekends, I tell them things I love about them.  "I love that you sing out loud.  I love that you help without being asked.  I love that you notice people in need."  If we are rushed in the morning we do our I love mes on the car.  One morning a couple weeks ago, the girls asked me to say three things I love about me..  It was a good exercise for me.  Then they started telling me things they love about me.  Then out of no where McKenzie said, " I love that you are a virtuous woman!"  That really struck me.  That is something I have hoped my entire life to become.  What a compliment.  I have to say it meant even more coming from one of my children.  I feel extremely thankful that McKenzie  recognized virtue as something to love about someone.