Where are we now??

So I'm still wide-eyed in Chicago ..... we did survive the train ride into the city. We made our way to the Border's book store. Scott picked up two books and I found a book that was suggested to me by my friend, Dana. "Raising Respectful Children in a Disrespectful World" by Jill Rigby. This is just a small portion of what I read last night.
"Today's kids are angry and rebellious at rates higher than any other generation. They are the first generation to do worse psychologically, socially, and economically than their parents. But they're not rebelling against rigidity and rules as the hippies of the sixties did; they are rebelling against the lack of structure and adult guidance." page 2 "When we seek to help kids feel good about themselves (the goal of self-esteem), we teach them to focus on themselves and how they feel and what they want. I believe this perspective keeps children from participating in the world; it encourages them to see everything as if looking into a mirror, so that they grow up believing, "It's all about me." .. Kids with this attitude aren't exhibiting self-confidence. They are exhibiting self-conceit, a view of themselves that says they are superior to others. When we help kids respect themselves, we teach them to focus on others and how others feel and what others need..." page 8
That's just in Chapter One. So if I wasn't wide-eyed about the world this weekend, I've now picked up a book that had made me wide-eyed about my parenting and where my kids are at this stage! This trip was supposed to be care free and relaxing ... like the book .... this is supposed to be "all about me!" but it is turning more into a trip of reflection. God just doesn't give us vacations, does He? A moment where you stop and thank Him for His continued love for me and that He doesn't leave me where I'm at. A reminder of His faithfulness and mercy to someone who surely doesn't deserve it .....
So did I tell you we made it out of Borders Bookstore? We did with the books we wanted from our assistant, Stitch, and he was really a neat guy. We were able to talk to him for a little while. And I did get to do a favor for my friend, Shirley, who couldn't get something on-line. So I got to hit the American Girl store for her! That was another reflection for me. I was walking around in there watching all these moms with their daughters and buying the dolls and accessories, etc. I had a moment where I felt like I missed something with Erica. I didn't know about American Girls when she was small. So I mentioned to Scott how I felt and his words to me were, "it makes me feel something else when I'm sitting on a couch watching all of it." I know what he meant. And I had to be reminded of where I was as a mom during that time. How easily I would have gotten caught up in the whole American Girl dream and lived it through Erica. Again, I remember when I did find out about it and bought her the doll and the twins .... yes, she plays with the WalMart $10 doll. Again, a reminder to me of how it isn't about "me" and how the desire of my heart is to not teach her "it's about you" either. I can encourage moms to enjoy the American Girl dream ... however, use caution and not allow that to be the idol of their life ... and teach them that it isn't about them ... and whether it is American Girl or Batman, which is an idol for Spencer, we have training to do, friends! Let's read this book together and get on it!!!!