My 4-year-old daughter is my more “difficult” child. You know what I mean, the kid that pushes your buttons just a little bit more. The kid that takes more work, both mentally and physically. She is sassy, loud, and strong-willed. We butt heads a lot, and she pushes me to my limit. I found myself thinking about these traits of hers and how I could spin them in a positive way instead of be frustrated by them.
Then suddenly it dawned on me: I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE HER! My biggest role model is my 4-year-old daughter.
Looking at her traits in a positive way made me realize that my daughter Molly has multiple traits I strive for. Rather than looking at her as “sassy” or “loud,” I realized she is confident, loving, present, never dims her personality, and is the definition of #extra. Who wouldn’t love to be described like that?
Benefits of Acting Like a Spirited 4-Year-Old
Confidence
My daughter’s confidence is through the roof! She loves to dance and sing no matter who is watching. If she wants to dress like a cowgirl or a princess (or a cowgirl princess), she will because it makes her feel good about herself. She owns whatever room she is in by just being herself!
I wish I could have as much unwavering confidence as her, but sadly this is not always the case. I can get stuck in my own head and second guess myself, or find myself worrying about what others might think. Having the confidence to be your true self is a gift, and my daughter embodies that perfectly.
Bravery
Molly is excited to try new things, make new friends, and see new places. She says what she thinks no matter who she is talking to, and she will stand her ground. She is always willing to jump into anything without any second thoughts. It really takes a lot of courage to be so young and live like this!
Me on the other hand, not so much. I can be scared to push myself out of my comfort zone, and I overthink and doubt myself way too much. Can you imagine living your life without fear or doubt? Think of all of the things you could push yourself to accomplish by living outside of your comfort zone, just like a 4-year-old does!
Personality
If you look up the definition of #extra, you will find a picture of my daughter. Ok not really, but she does personify this definition. She has a HUGE personality, and sometimes she is just a little too much! She is loud and eccentric; she doesn’t dim her personality for anybody.
I’ll admit, I also have a pretty big personality. The apple didn’t fall too far off the tree! I can be loud and eccentric, but I also find myself trying to dim that for the sake of others. I would never want her to hold back her strong personality just to please others, so why should I do that myself?
Unconditional Love
My 4-year-old daughter loves like no other. The care and concern she has for the people in her life is unbelievable. She loves without expectations or stipulations, and she loves people just as they are. Even as she grows and changes, she continues to love just the same. What if everybody loved as unconditionally as a child? If we can love without conditions or expectations, our relationships will be stronger, and we can be happier. Think of how good it feels to have the conditional love of your child, and then think of how good those in your life would feel if you could do the same!
Always Present
My daughter lives 100% in the present. She isn’t worried about what she has to do tomorrow, or even what she has to do in a few hours. She lives in the here and now, and her focus is on what she is doing in that moment.
Unfortunately, I can’t say the same thing about myself. I’m always looking ahead at my schedule; thinking about the next thing I need to do, or even something that happened in the past. Molly has taught me that I don’t always need to be in a hurry, and I can take the time to enjoy the present moment. I do, in fact, have time to stop and smell the roses!
I hope you can now see how my 4-year-old daughter Molly is my biggest role model. She is unapologetically herself, her confidence is through the roof, she is brave, and she loves unconditionally. I hope she never looses any of these traits that makes her so incredibly special, and I also hope she sees them in her own mother and feels the same way about me!
Want to read more about boosting your self-confidence? Check out our post here!
Not only are you a phenomenal PT, I just know you are, YOU are an incredible writer. Your story of Miss Molly is absolutely beautiful. What a special girl and what a special Momma! I could see this as a wall decor for every little girl’s room. You should market it!