What Does Your Childhood Say About You?—Formal Lunch

My brother and sister-in-law just found out they were chosen to be birth parents to another baby. We’ve had Jackson in our family now for 3 1/2 years. His presence has made me feel so proud to be an Eggerichs and honored to be called his aunt.

We just found out that baby #2 is going to be a girl and I’m beside myself. (I’m sure Jackson is pumped too, because I’ve taken it upon myself to dress him up in little girl clothes from time to time…)

In all of the excitement of a baby girl Eggerichs joining the family, my brother found this time lapse video shot by a father of his little girl growing up. Jackson and I wanted to share it with you as a discussion launcher for the latest Formal Lunch.

This father filmed his daughter EVERY WEEK since the day she was born. It’s an amazing 4 minutes of watching the years literally fly by. (If anyone knows of a boy version of this kind of thing, please pass it along!)

Take a moment to watch and try to recall what life was like for you during those different years.

Maybe for some of you, there are glimpses that are filled with recollections of being doted on by parents. For others, there could be less than sweet memories that come to mind.

Either way, I think it’s important to take stock of the moments—and how they’ve shaped us.

(Can’t see this video? Click HERE.)

FORMAL LUNCH:

Go back to age 7 and 14 and think, journal or talk with your friends about:

1.) Where were you?

2.) Who/What defined you as a little girl/boy?

3.) Do you remember moments where you felt like your view of who you are as a man or woman took shape?

4.) How will you honor and acknowledge your children as little men and little women?

_________________

YES, MY MOTHER DID DO THAT…

Taking note of how we view ourselves as men and women will help us with how we communicate our needs to the people we’re in relationship with.

Childhood milestones can often define how we embrace our masculinity and femininity and how we pass that on to our children.

Personally, I’ve always wanted to do some cool rite of passage event with my kids as they hit big milestones—or their teenage years. (Unlike how I overheard my precious mom announce to my father and our geriatric neighbors, with an emotion of someone accepting an Oscar, “Today…today our little Joy became a woman!”)

If you have any rite of passages (or embarrassing stories) throw em’ my way!!

From my heart,

Joy

p.s. When I watched this amazing video, this childhood song popped in my head:

“Jesus loves the little children,

All the children of the world,

Red and yellow black and white,

They are precious in his sight,

Jesus loves the little children of the world”

p.s.s. If you haven’t seen my #tbt’s on Instagram, here’s a little taste of my yesteryears. I ruled.