I wanna see you be Brave!

You can be amazing

You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug

You can be the outcast

Or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love

Or you can start speaking up

Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do

And they settle ‘neath your skin

Kept on the inside and no sunlight

Sometimes a shadow wins

But I wonder what would happen if you

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

Everybody’s been there, everybody’s been stared down

By the enemy

Fallen for the fear and done some disappearing

Bow down to the mighty

Don’t run, stop holding your tongue

Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live

Maybe one of these days you can let the light in

Show me how big your brave is

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

Innocence, your history of silence

Won’t do you any good

Did you think it would?

Let your words be anything but empty

Why don’t you tell them the truth?

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

This is a song by Sara Bareilles. I really like her voice and think that she actually knows a thing or two about music and composition and harmony and blend, etc... But, most importantly, I love her lyrics. How I wish this for my children in every form of life. I want Charlie to be brave and just BE HIMSELF, like he is now, for the rest of his life. Of course I want him to follow rules, but I want him to never be ashamed or embarassed. School is hard on kids, not necessarily for academics, but for the social cues of life. Yes, my son and daughter need to "fit in" in some way, but I also want them to say what is good, what is right, stand up for themselves, stand up for the kid who is picked on, be a leader. I know every parent wants this for their child.

Charlie and Carrie, when you are older and reading this blog--I wish you to do this:

---Dance, seriously, all the time, everywhere. Who cares what you look like? Dancing is so much fun, fast, slow, crazy, choreographed or not. Let people look at you, and if they look at you like you are crazy, just remember, YOU are the one having fun right now.

---Relationships matter. People love people, I think they truly do. That is why we marry, have children, etc....most people do not want to be alone. So DO THINGS, WITH PEOPLE, ALL THE TIME. Go out, laugh, drink a beer, see a show, enjoy live music, have a picnic, start a book club, or a wine club, or a club where you just sit around and talk and laugh. People need people. Relationships matter, go and find them. Get out of the house.

---Live in a community where people are "doing" stuff all the time. Look for events and book most nights of the week with ways to learn (not just from a book) but a museum, or a concert, or an art show, or a lecture on something weird. 

---If you are feeling well, never pass up an invitation to do something. Trust me, it will probably be more fun than sitting around the house. 

---If you stay home to raise your kids, take them to do things. You may not know this, but we take you two out for dinner at least once a week. And yes, we are teaching you. Teaching you how to wait patiently, be quiet, talk politely, no whining or pouting, being polite to waiters and waitresses. We take you to cool places by the capitol where you can learn this. We often get the crazy look when we come in with you, but often we are complimented by waiters on what nice kids you are. And you two are! Very very nice kids! We also take you to church with us, to fun "kid" places, basically, there are not many places we will not take you. Because, you are learning.......!!!!!!

--Be brave in everything (but you do not have to climb mt.Everest or cliff jump), but be brave around people. Go and do! 

We love you so much Charlie and Carrie!