Piggy Bank

On this day, one decade ago, my little buddy put some coins in his piggy bank and then wrote about it in his journal.

A Metaphor

I often use the metaphor of putting coins in a piggy bank to symbolize teaching our kids new skills. Here’s what I mean.  In this metaphor, we are Mikey and our kids are the piggy bank.  The coins are the skills.  

Sometimes it feels like we put in coin after coin, teach skill after skill and not much seems to change.  The piggy bank looks exactly the same as when we started.  Our child might be behaving the same way and not demonstrating any growth.  We think, ‘all of this work is going to waste – it’s having no effect.’

But inside, our kids are full of more coins, more knowledge and a greater number of experiences.  Over time, that will show.  Sometimes it happens in one big burst of growth and sometimes a little thing will change over what seems like a long time.  

Celebrate Successes

I used to follow a blog called Diary of a Mom.  She used to refer to some of her daughter’s accomplishments as ‘a little thing that isn’t.’ She meant that although it may not look like much to some people, our kids work hard for their achievements and it is great for us to recognize that! Celebrate the wins, big and small, for your kids and yourself.  You’ve worked hard!

And…keep putting coins in the piggy bank!