SmileNotes By Sharon Scott, LPC, LMFT - It’s been said that some people come into our lives for a reason… others for a season…
And a special few for a lifetime. I’ve had some of all three types and treasure each one for that contribution to a chapter of my life (or to the whole book!).
One person that came into my life for a reason happened in 2004 when my beloved father, two dear aunts and four close friends all died the same year. She was my swimming teacher. I don’t know why I took on the challenge to finally learn to swim that difficult year, but I did. Some days she literally just pulled me through the water as I cried. Marilee really helped me during a time when I was struggling in more ways than just learning to swim.
I met Liz shortly after college while walking my cocker spaniel Shannon. Being an avid dog lover, she would tear out of her apartment to come pet him. We finally introduced ourselves to one another and a fabulous friendship of thirty years developed and continues to grow. She will be in my life for a lifetime.
In this overly busy, technologically filled world in which we live it’s all too easy to forego communication or communicate solely by brief text, twitter or e-mail. I’ve actually seen teens texting one other as they sat side by side.
Friends need to be tended to like we would care for a beautiful plant that produces gorgeous flowers. Personal conversations, telephone calls and, yes, even snail mail are needed to truly cherish a friend. I remember in college receiving long letters on beautiful stationery from friends and relatives, even boyfriends (although theirs was usually not on beautiful paper!). I treasured those lettersand still have some of them. Wonderful memories are contained within.
When I was a toddler, my mother and father were renting a house while saving to buy a new home. Three doors down was another couple who had a daughter the same age as me, Jamie, as well as a baby named Donna. The mothers initially became friends, then the children then the fathers. These two families became so close that they bought homes a year later next door to one another. The fathers have both died… the mothers and the girls still occasionally communicate even though they live many states apart.
Moral to the stories: treasure and nurture your friends. It’s a wonderful example to set for your children.
Copyright © 2010, Sharon Scott. No reproduction without written permission from author.
P. S. Please see my other column The Counselor’s Corner on helping your child manage the peer pressure of copying homework.
Sharon Scott, LPC, LMFT, has been making a difference in peoples’ lives for 30 years though her international keynotes and workshops, her eight award-winning books, and her private counseling services. Five of her books are a charming series for elementary-age children that she "co-authored" with her savvy cocker spaniel Nicholas. Each beautifully illustrated book teaches a valuable living skill such as managing emotions in Life’s Not Always Fair, building character in Nicholas’ Values, and making wise choices in Too Smart for Trouble. Sharon’s best-seller for teens is How to Say No and Keep Your Friends, 2nd Ed. Her books are available from HRD Press, 800-822-2801 or www.hrdpress.com/SharonScott . For more information on Sharon’s many workshop topics that she can bring to your child’s school or community, please see her website at www.SharonScott.com.
Listen to Families Online Radio Interview with Sharon Scott
Books That Work!
By Sharon Scott
Family counselor Sharon Scott is the author of 8 books including this delightful series for children that is "co-authored" by her savvy cocker spaniel Nicholas who makes learning valuable life skills fun.
Too Smart for Trouble , a best-selling, award-winning book, teaches children to think on their own and how to say no when asked to do something wrong.
Not Better... Not Worse... Just Different is must reading for children to learn to be more sensitive to others, avoid bullying and know how to handle teasing.
Life's Not Always Fair is a child's guide for managing emotions and learning to soothe oneself when mad, sad, scared or confused.
Nicholas' Values is a delightful guide helping children develop good character traits such as honesty, confidence, sharing and so much more!
Too Cool for Drugs helps children learn why and how to say no to drugs--drug education must begin in the home at an early age!
