Parenting isn’t an easy task. There aren’t many solutions out there for our ‘day-to-day challenges’. Yet, we all keep on going… And why? Many bloggers/parents may relate to these statements, and who knows, even add more to the pot! With that in mind, and a bit of inspiration provided by this week’s suggested writing challenge from The Daily Post [Image vs. Text], had the perfect scenario for a ‘pictorial explanation’ of, ‘why we do what we do’ for our children!
Hopefully, the plan for this post will work. The images should provide at least a clue about the answers to these proposed questions… check the list below, and let’s see if you agree with the ‘suggested reasons’! ♥
* Why trying to prepare that special treat they love, knowingly we’d be tired after a full week of work, and the weekend is our only chance to recover and rescue ourselves before the upcoming work week strikes again? 
* Why teaching our children the importance of group activities, the meaning of camaraderie and why being part of a team is greater than knowing how to work alone?
* Why having your house ‘invaded’ by little ‘barbarians’, who love to scream and cry, fighting over toys and games with their peers, during a so-called ‘birthday celebration’?
* Why teaching kids to love and respect their cultural traditions, their distinct backgrounds and their personal stories?
* Why getting up early in the morning, making sure our children have all they need for that particular school day, even if sometimes, we need to come up with a ‘last-minute’ solution for a very special request for some school activity?
* Why going over and over their school homework, despite sometimes having a splitting headache and zero inspiration to help them with their writing assignments?
A letter of ‘appreciation’, from my resident first grader…
* Why volunteering your very scarce free time, to join them in some activity at the school?
* Why teaching our children that they need to share their life skills and abilities with others, in a selfless way?
* Why is it necessary to show our children they’re special, unique, important in their own way, and always, unconditionally loved?
* Why we, parents, end up doing exactly what we do, despite our list of countless complaints, which include tiredness, lack of resources and sleepless nights? We do it because we care. We care for their well-being, we care for raising emotionally resilient children, who will mature to become grounded adults, for a more compassionate and stable society. That’s why we do what we do… ♥
♥ Thanks for the inspiration, and for reading!
brasileiro? latino? no speak americano?? click!
Photo Project: 52 Bolivian Sundays
good feedback!
Amy
February 23, 2013 at 10:11 pm
Great post! Love it.
3rdCultureChildren
February 23, 2013 at 10:13 pm
Thank you, Amy!
dancinmoma
February 22, 2013 at 4:41 pm
The expressions in each adorable photo is certainly worth a thousand words or more!!
Organized chaos = fabulous childhood! 
3rdCultureChildren
February 22, 2013 at 4:51 pm
Glad you enjoyed them!
frizztext
February 22, 2013 at 10:34 am
I like “A letter of ‘appreciation’, from my resident first grader…”
3rdCultureChildren
February 22, 2013 at 10:37 am
I know I’m totally bias!!!
But he’s my first-born, and the only boy… It was simply amazing to read thru his little letter [from school] acknowledging all he’s received from his mom… priceless! 
Thank you for taking the time to read through it, and comment!
lagottocattleya
February 21, 2013 at 4:11 pm
That’s exactly the way it is. And your lovely children bring back sweet memories of my own…Sometimes I wish I could go back in time for just one more of those lovely moments of soft children’s arms around my neck. The feeling of a sweet little darling falling asleep while being carried. Well, I still get great hugs from my 21 and 23 years old – but …
Thank you for sharing and bringing up sweet memories!
3rdCultureChildren
February 21, 2013 at 5:55 pm
I’m glad I was able to bring those sweet memories back! Thanks for that!
Kari Neumeyer
February 21, 2013 at 3:18 pm
What a beautiful collection of photos. You certainly drive the point home!
3rdCultureChildren
February 21, 2013 at 5:57 pm
Thank you, Kari! Glad it’s appreciated!
fashionandbeads18
February 21, 2013 at 3:19 am
It’s so sweet…
3rdCultureChildren
February 21, 2013 at 9:06 am
Thank you!
Jody
February 20, 2013 at 10:00 pm
I would do it all over again for just one more darling letter of appreciation! It’s all worth it.
The opportunity to take another shot of a baby in a bucket would certainly sweeten the pot!
3rdCultureChildren
February 20, 2013 at 11:26 pm
Thank you, Jody! The baby in a bucket is now my 5-year-old young lady [our Valentine's Baby], and that letter of ‘apicyation’ [as he writes] really won my heart! Thank you for stopping by and reading through it – much appreciated!
Lucid Gypsy
February 20, 2013 at 2:30 pm
Am I too old for you to adopt?
3rdCultureChildren
February 20, 2013 at 2:36 pm
Hey…
Just trying to fit our own life story for this week’s writing inspiration… and I hope you like the way I ‘tried to explain why we do what we do…’ [for our children]… and the main reason is, because of love, because of the love we have for them and the hope for a better society… Thank you Gilly for taking the time to stop by and read thru it! 
colonialist
February 20, 2013 at 12:59 pm
A set of utterly compelling reasons, indeed!
3rdCultureChildren
February 20, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Thank you! Despite being very personal, I guess they do fit well the image vs. text challenge. Thanks for checking it out.
Ritu KT
February 20, 2013 at 11:34 am
This post is such a treat to read (view?). Very nice take on Image Vs. Text.
I ‘AWWWWWed’ so many times and couldn’t stop smiling, especially after reading the letter of appreciation.
3rdCultureChildren
February 20, 2013 at 11:43 am
Thank you so much, Ritu… I tried to work it in such a way I’d pay homage to our three kids, and the way we [the parents] are trying to bring them up… their images and their lives are represented throughout the images… Glad you enjoyed the post – thanks for reading [or viewing?
]
Ritu KT
February 20, 2013 at 11:48 am
That’s so sweet. You def succeeded!
3rdCultureChildren
February 20, 2013 at 11:52 am
Great! Thanks! <3