Goodness Starts Today
As I stare at the August calendar and count the days left in summer holidays, my heart sinks. It’s been an awesome break for us, and we’ve certainly made the most, just as we set out to do when summer first began.
From a cross-Canada trip, sun-filled days spent playing in the backyard, and so much in between; we made many memories to cherish.
While I can’t say it’s been all rainbows and glitter with my three daughters {they sure know how to fight at times}, there’s been loads of good moments with them.
My best recollections are giggles echoing through the yard as they ran through the sprinkler, the look of ‘awe’ on their faces when they spotted a whale in the Bay of Fundy, many afternoons spent at the outdoor pool, and the shrieks of glee when I announced that dinner was cereal and ice cream one night when it was just too hot to cook.
On the outside these seem like incredible memories, right?
In the case of the sprinkler, I was actually at the kitchen window, listening, yet not apart of the actual event. When we had cereal and ice cream for dinner; the girls came in the door, ate quickly, and then left in a flash so they could re-join their friends for play. While I did swim with the girls at the pool many times this summer, I regret not going off the diving board with my oldest when she asked me to join her. I had no excuse to refuse, I just didn’t want to.
Don’t get me wrong, these are great times and happy experiences. Yet, there are times when I could have better connected with my children.
Recently my oldest was excited to share the news of a new skill learned in cheer practice, yet her story was drowned-out by the arguing of her twin sisters in the backseat. Did I designate a quiet time right away, to really listen without interruption and celebrate with her? The fact that I can’t say for sure means it was a huge opportunity lost, and for that I’m sad.
Related to this, I dont recall when I last set aside quality time for just one of my children, only her and I. For those with multiple children, when is the last time you did this as well?
We’ve all made a plethora of memories with our children this summer, yet amongst them all, was there a life-changing event for your child? An experience that was true and deep, without life’s chaos interfering in that bond?
I might be asking a lot of questions here, yet they are important things to consider since change starts with the realization that something massive is missing.
Quaker recently released a very heart-warming video called “Goodness Starts Today”, and the video captures a true story about a family that puts their busy life on hold, to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
I urge you to watch the video, yet you’ll want to grab a tissue as this is the deep connection I’m referring to. And it’ll hit you like a tonne of bricks.
This true story captured by Quaker isn’t unlike my own, or many other families I know. We all have such busy and chaotic lives, and the balancing act is so tough.
In fact, it’s this quote in the video that hit me especially hard, “I hope she doesn’t think I work too much or don’t pay enough attention to her, cause I really do value the time we spent together”. Parenting involves a constant game of tug-of-war between commitments, and you hope such young minds understand the struggle and the fight to keep that balance.
The truth is, our time with our kids is so limited, and this video by Quaker mentions that fact. I don’t necessarily think it’s the amount of time spent, yet the quality of that time is more important.
When the father and daughter are on that stage dancing together; you can literally see joy pouring from their faces, and also from the mother who is watching from the audience.
Now that you’ve watched the “Goodness Starts Today” video by Quaker {and there’s a behind-the-scenes video as well}, I have just one more question for you:
When was the last time a real-life experience between you and your child, produced a feeling for you both, similar to your reaction from this video?
I’ve spoken before about only having 18 summers with your child, if you’re lucky. Only 18! In another week our summer of 2015 will have passed, and that collective number will be reduced by one.
Don’t let this chance pass you by.
There’s still time to take hold of the opportunity to make that one memory that will stay with you and your child forever.
Make the decision for that goodness to start – today.
Disclosure: I was compensated for this post, yet as always, all opinions are my own.
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I love the look of pride on my daughter’s faces when they’ve done something that they’ve had to be a bit brave for but done it anyway. Their self confidence shines when they realize they can do it! I like sharing those experiences with them =)
We’d like to go camping in B.C.
We’d go to Disney World 🙂
We would do a road trip across Canada, all the way to Newfoundland where my husbands family is originally from!
I would love for us to go Florida and go to Disney World.
I have always wanted to go to Ireland with my daughters. It is where their Dad’s family came from.
Travel to Europe to spend time with my extended family.
Just do a long travel or cruise together. We work all year and always take short holidays
I would love to fly a small plane.
I would love to take my kids to Disneyland.
we would definitely go to Disneyland!! my family never got to go so it would be quite he experience for everyone
A spa day. She would love it.
Ziplining!
We’d go to Australia for 3 weeks!!
I would love to travel with my whole extended family on a cruise to Hawaii and back.
I would love to be able to enjoy Disney World with our 6 daughters and their families
I would love to travel to Europe with my husband and 3 girls..research our family’s history..see where we originated
I’ve always wanted to go to the Master’s golf tournament.
Cross country road trip
I’d love to have a huge party with all my children (7 of them spread across 3 continents!) and their children. Then take a couple of weeks with each family and tour Canada with them.
I love to go on a family vacation to California!
We would take a class together, maybe acrobatics, since that is something that we all really enjoy.
I’ve always wanted to go to the far north. I always say Alaska but also Canadian North. I want to see the Northern lights. and the troopers
I think we would all love to mountain climb together.
I’d love to go to an ice hotel in Europe with my family!
Id HAVE to say go to DisneyWorld together…
I want to do the TOUGH MUDDER!!!!
I would love to go white water rafting with the family.
DISNEY WORLD FOR SURE
A big thing on our list of things to do as a family is to go on a heritage trip to see Scotland and Holland (where my husband’s family and my family are originally from).
A smaller one that we want to do is to do a hike-in camping trip in the wilderness.
I have always wanted to go to England to check out me family roots.
I would go to Universal Studios down Diagon Alley with my whole family (dressed as wizards) and truly live in the fantasy world of Harry Potter.
I’ve always wanted to go across canada by train, so far ive only done it from Manitoba to Edmonton.
I would take my kids on an airplane for the first time 🙂
We would travel by train from coast to coast across Canada.
We’d love to win the lottery together…LOL…but I suppose that doesn’t count. Otherwise, we’d love to explore other cultures in their respective country specifically for the learning experience.
I’d like to have a champagne picnic in a hot air balloon ride!
I would take a trip to Alaska
I would love to one day be able to take my kids to Italy, It is our dream 🙂 I will get there !
We would love to take a trip to Scotland and Ireland to see and experience where our ancestors came from. I really think it would make us feel even more connected as a family.
I would take mysids home to Romania to see their grandparents!
We would take a road trip across Canada!
We’d love to visit other parts of Canada (outside of Ontario, where we live)
I would rent a cottage for my whole family.
I would love to travel to Australia to visit my niece and her family
I have always wanted to go to Australia! If it’s a family vacation, we really want to take the kids on a tour across Europe!
I would love to go on a family trip to Disney.
We would go to an amazing waterpark!
I would love to take my husband and kids to Italy which is where I’m from.
I would love to go snorkeling with sharks.
We’d go to Disney World fo sure
I always wanted to take my wife on a train trip through the Rockies, no mountains in NS
Oh we would LOVE to travel to Disneyland, to experience the magical kingdom in all it’s glory. It would be the most special adventure, memories to treasure forever!
I would take my kids to Disney 🙂
Experience all the secrets the world has to offer in some of the most remote areas like Nunavut.
We would love to go to Disneyland! It is a dream of ours to experience the magical kingdom as a family, all the glorious sights, the dining, the rides. What a thrill it would be with sweet memories that would last forever.
I would love to take the kids to Disney
Go to San Diego Comic Con. That’s my dream!
I would love to travel to Australia!
I would like to take all my family for a weekend getaway near a beach
A family vacation.
i would like to take my children to Europe and see where part of their ancestary comes from.
To pick one thing if I could with my family it would be to travel to Disney World, my girls have always wanted to go there, they are grown now, but that is what I would do for them and make it a road trip too!!
I would love to take my family to a rescue animal shelter and teach them the importance that all animals are special, hopefully by bringing home a new doggie to their forever home.
A family trip to Disney!
Hot air balloon ride
cruise around the world
My kids really want to go to Churchill MB and kayak with the belugas!
I’d love for my family to go to Scotland and visit the historical sites. My hubby and I both have roots there.
I’d love to take them to visit my birthplace, Switzerland.
Id love to visit europe. Ive never set foot out of north america.
If I could do anything in the world. I would travel the world
I would rent a cabin up north where our 5 kids and significant others (if appplicable), and our 2 grandchildren, would enjoy time together! Bonfires, marshmallows and a lot of laughs!! 🙂
I would really like to move to B.C for a different lifestyle, I like the east coast but I would love the family to experience a whole new lifestyle we can’t have here.
go on a trip to Disney!
I would love to take the family and travel to England, Ireland and Scotland.
I would travel the world
Go to Disneyland or Hawaii
I would love to be able to get the entire family together to spend Christmas with my Dad.
If I could I would take all my grandchildren to Disneyworld. Since this is not possible I try to make our time together fun by doing crafts with them, teaching them to sew, and taking them on adventures through books.
It would be great to do a road trip from Winnipeg to Montreal. We have always flown but it would be amazing to see everything along the way
I’d love to travel all around Europe with my family.
We would like to go on a safari in South Africa!
visit Hobbiton in New Zealand!
I have always wanted to visit Australia.
I have the dream to take my family on a wonderful trip to Disney World. I hope it happens soon.
I’d like to go on a island getaway with my family and live in hut on the beach.
I would like to take a long road trip in a motor home with my family, stopping wherever we want, to fish or swim or do nothing.
I have always wanted to see the earth from space!
would love to visit Disney Land
my dream for my family has always been to visit Disney world when we get enough $$
I would love to travel with all my family.
Swim with sharks it’s a big one on my bucket list but might be too scared to do it lol
I would love to take a roadtrip across Canada and the US
we would love to go to Disney World
just spending time with the family is nice so for me a staycation or a trip to the cottage
Disney for 2 while weeks to experience absolutely everything and I would whisk away to Bora Bora for 2 nights of bliss
I want to explore Canada with my son.
I’ve always wanted to fly somewhere in a plane.
I would take my family somewhere tropical for vacation or on a cruise ship!
take my family on a plane for the first time
We’d go to Disney World
go to Disney World!
Kayak with whales off the Northen BC Coat
Just do a road trip across Canada visiting each province/territory would be awesome!! 🙂
Now that my brothers and I are all older, I really would like us all to be able to go on a family vacation. Since two of my brothers are so much older than me and my younger ones, we haven’t done a BIG trip together since I was very young. I’d love to be able to do this with everyone now that we’re older.
Something I would love to do as a family would be to form a band. I would want to be the drummer.
Go to disney together! We were going to go this year but with the exchange rate so horrible…..nope!
We would go to Disney!
I always wanted to go to Scotland to see the ancesteral castles
I love any kind of travel with my daughters. However, our trip to a dude ranch still gives us the giggles, many years later!
I would take my parents to England to meet my inlaws
a family vacation to PEI
We would love to go on a vacation with both of my daughters and their families! It would be so wonderful!
i`d go on a cross country adventure with the fam
I would love to travel around Japan and China
I’d travel to yellowstone national park and hike up halfdome. Great looking gift basket!
HAVE to say go to Disney World together
I would choose to go back to my early 20’s and change a couple of big decisions 🙂
Id love to take my family to FLorida
We would drive the West Coast of Canada and the USA. On our bucket list and hopefully to get done soon.
I would go to disney!
Build a tree house.
I’d love to be able to take my mom back to Hawaii!
Would invite all my family and friends to come visit us in Canada.
I’d love to go on a trip to Alberta with close and extended family.
I’ve always wanted to zipline through the rainforests of Costa Rica!
I would like to go on a family cruise with my family.
I would like to go back to gymnastics.
Take a train ride across Canada
Travel
If I had a chance I would go to meet my long lost sister. we recently found each other on facebook and we have been chatting. Would love to meet her.
I would like to do another houseboat trip with my kids as adults.Was the BEST vacation I EVER had,including Europe and the Tropics!
I would travel with my family all over the world. We would experience new and exciting things together. We would learn and laugh together. All of our time would be quality time spent together.
I would live in the same city as my mom and sister. I miss them living so far away. This video made me cry! It was so beautiful!
visit Nepal. thanks
I really want to go to Italy and I would love to take the kids to Disney world.
If I had the opportunity – I would take a nice relaxing trip with the family 🙂
I would love to take a cruise with my hubby.
we’d go snorkeling
I would love to take my kids to Victoria to see my Mom. My youngest 3 have only met her once (and that was almost 3 years ago)
I would take my kids to Disneyland
I would love to go with my son to see the giant Galapagos Tortoises.
A family trip to Japan
I would go parachuting!
I would love to go on an Alaskan cruise.
actually take a non working family holiday
sleep late? and visit PEI
I would go on a vacation to Disney with my family!
Take a year off to travel
Visiting the Atlantic provinces
Would love to go on a safari in Africa.
I used to work on a Tall Ship and I would love to take my kids so they could experience what it’s like to actually sail on a tall ship
I’d like to roadtrip to California.
cross the country on a train, seeing everything from the Rockies, all the way to Newfoundland!
I’d like to take my family to Hawaii. It’s where my grandparents went on their honeymoon and I’d love to take her back there.
“her” being my grandmother. Lol!
We have always wanted to go to the Halloween party at Disney.
We would do beach vacation !
A family hike to Dunder Rock has been on my bucket list for several years, but we just don’t manage to find the time to get it done. Hopefully we’ll get there before hunting season starts.
We would go to Disney World!
I’d like to get professional photos taken with my mom and sisters.
I would take a road trip through the USA!
We would learn to play a sport (or climb/ski) together. We love activities and tend to plan time away for vacations but not necessarily time to do things together in the city that we live in.
We would go on a train trip across Canada
I would take my family to Hawii
I would take my daughter and do the EdgeWalk at the CN Tower in Toronto!
My goal is to travel across Canada via rail. It would be an amazing learning experience
Far fetched as it may seem – fly to Switzerland with my 11 year old son Evan and visit a Lindt chocolate factory. Watch/Learn/Sample masterpieces of chocolate – indulge – then return and implement the treadmill regiment again.
Eva Mitton-Urban
Would love to go on a long holiday anywhere together. As long as it doesn’t cost very much
I’d love to check out Nova Scotia, I hear it’s beautiful!!
Also ty for the chance at the giveaway, perfect for back to school!
Love to do a roadtrip to Alaska!
My kids have been wanting to go on another cruise
We would love to take a family vacation to Disneyworld
I would love to go to Disney World with my family! What a dream come true that would be!
Visit Newfoundland and Labrador!
We’d travel to Egypt together. A dream to go.
Cheers.
Something that I always wanted to do was travel to Ireland. I hope one day to be able to do this and take my parent’s and kids there, on a family vacation.
I would like to take my family to Denmark to see where their ancestors are from.
I would love to go to Scotland and England to explore my heritage.
We have always wanted to take the kids to the tropics so that they know the smell of salty tropical air.
I’ve always wanted to travel across Canada by train.
On a big scale we would go to Disney World – somewhere none of us have been before and where we would all love to go (we are saving up and planning to go in 5 years). On a small scale we would go on a family bike ride. My husband is an avid cyclist, and our eldest is awesome on her bike too, but I can barely ride. I would love to practice enough to feel confident enough to go on a ride with them, and with our little bubba in tow (bike trailer style, as she is too young to ride for a few more years now!). I just need to get my confidence up, and make the time to do so/practice.
I would go to PEI , been wanting to go for a while now , want to see the red mud and eat fresh seafood and visit the Ann Of Green Gables Museum 🙂
I want to go to Easter Island with my kids
I watched this recently and loved it! With our kids being 13 and 6 it is tough at times to find things that can connect them together, their interests are obviously very different. It is also rare that they each get individual time with just their parents. So recently when our daughter went on her first sleepover we made sure to make it a fun time for her brother. Took him out to dinner and then we went and watched a movie with him at the theater. One that started at 10pm at night, the kind that we normally would not go to with his sister in tow. We did the same sort of thing for her when her brother was off on his own sleepover this summer too.
Take a trip to Disney. On our bucket list!
I’d love to go on safari in Africa.
I would love to go on a safari in Africa with my family.
If I had the chance I would learn to fly a glider.
We would travel to Europe, but that’s going to take a lot more saving up!
We would Love to go to disney world and take a family vacation thats magical 🙂
i’d like to visit a castle
I would love to take the family to visit their extended family overseas.
i try my hardest to be right by my kids side during all their sport, infact the 3 of us do Judo together so that it can be a memory for us when they are older!
We’ve always wanted to swim with dolphins. Bucket list for sure.
I would like to take my family to New York City.
We would take the kids around the world!
I’d take a course in gourmet cooking.
I would love to take the family to Disney World!
I would go to Hawaii and go whale watching !
I have always wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride over the city!
I’d love to take a cross canada trip and make a few stops in every province!! It’s something I’ve always wanted to do!
I would travel to Newfoundland where my husband is from. It would be great to see his family again.
Go to iceland to see the northern lights
I would love to take my son to Portugal to see where his family came from and visit the family we still over seas.
I would love to travel to Australia with my husband
I would love to take our children to Disney World. I hear it’s the most magical place on earth!
Jet ski!
If I had a chance, I would take my daughter to Hong Kong to see her great-grandma.
I would take my whole family on a trip.
Travel to Europe
I’ve always dreamed of going to Australia !
I would love to take my family to Hawaii.
I would spend a month or more in Australia with my family 🙂
Nicest prize I have seen in awhile… food and gift card!! HELLO
I would definitely choose to go to Disneyland!
I would like to have all my children together – like in a lodge in TN as it is most centrally located. We have not all been together for 12 yrs. Most were together in Dec for the funeral of my only daughter, but one son could not come. I have 8 sons left.
I would love to take my kids to BC
I would go to Paris and drink wine in the afternoon at a café.
We are all dying to travel to Australia together, so we’d probably do that 🙂
Road trip across Canada – and taking the time to enjoy the places along the way!
I would love to go on a family trip in a RV , just driving around ,camping out in Canada , seeing everything , it would be so awesome
I’d like to try parachuting.
Wow! I dream of taking my grandchildren and their parents on a Disney cruise. It’s only a dream, but…
Take a trip to Italy
Travel to Japan for 6 months
I would love to take my girls to Europe and experience history with them. There is nothing like watching something through the eyes of your children.
We’d take a long vacation to see a lot of things and places.
I would love to go Sky diving with my kids 🙂 Thanks for the chance at this great contest.
If I had the chance all I would really want to do is go whale watching. First on the East coast of Canada, then on the West Coast.
I would go on a Disney Cruise with my boys. 🙂
to Disney World
I would go to Disneyland
We would love to do a road trip across canada
I would love to bring my family to Disneyland
If I had a chance I would go on a road trip to PEI.
We would go check out Canada’s east coast then go check out the west coast. And all the places in between.
Definitely fall camping in Algonquin.
A Trip to Paris to explore & Experience Great food & Culture.
go together to a warm beach somewhere tropical, we have never all been to the beach at the same time
We would love to go to Disney World
I would go into space!
I would like to visit the Amazon with my family.
Love to do the small town festivals & show the kids that there is actually a lot to see & do in one’s own province. Tons of great entertainment & food to be enjoyed by all
It is our dream to go to Europe as a family to experience the culture there!
Would like to take my family to visit my daughter in England.
Would love to take a road trip across Canada with the family.
i really want the opportunity to swim with dolphins. or go on a cruise with my whole family.
We are dreaming of a big trip to Disney World. I’ve never been either and would love to experience with my husband and the boys for sure!
I would love to have a behind the scenes tour of the Royal Ontario Museum. It would be an amazing experience.
I would love to take my kids to Ireland to see the land of their ancestors.
A trip on the Rocky Mountaineer would be a great adventure!
If I had the chance I would take a cross Canada trip and especially concentrate on eastern Canada and the Maritimes.
We would love to travel to Thailand or Bali or Hawaii ?
If we had a chance, we would go to Disney World.
my uncle moved to New Zealand 20 yrs ago – i would love to take the family and meet my cousins for the first time.
My son wants to see the pyramids and I want to visit Australia & Hawaii…so I think we’d love to travel the world if we had the chance 🙂
I would love to take my family with the grandkids to Hawaii! There is so much culture there!
I would go to Hawaii with my family. My grandma went there years ago and loved it
Id travel to Japan with a good friend!
Travel from one side of Canada to the other on a train.
If we had the chance, I’d take the kids on a family vacation.
I’d love to rent a cabin on the lake and take my family on a week-long trip to relax & rejuvenate. Thanks for the chance to win!
I would take my family to Disney 🙂
Take a trip to Europe and visit Italy and Greece with my family.
I’d like to visit my siblings in Ontario, as they are not well.This would be a wonderful gift for us.
Would love to a catamaran/snorkelling trip in Fiji
I would love to take my family to Disneyland! 🙂
Camping is the best for memory making.
We’d go to Disney in Orlando, Florida
take the whole family on an African Safari
I would take the family white water rafting 🙂
Our family would go to the East Coast and drive around! It’s always been our dream!
We’d love to go zip-lining.
Hi,
What a powerful video and real tear jerker. Thanks for sharing it with us. It made me sit down and think about how every day has shaped me and made me wonder how I can be a better parent. Here are a few of my thoughts.
If I Could Raise My Child Again, I’d . . .
Build self-confidence first, and the house later.
Take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
Do less correcting and more connecting.
Finger paint more, and point fingers less.
Hug harder and laugh longer.
Be firm less often, and affirm much more.
Take more hikes and fly more kites.
Run through the fields and gaze at the stars.
Stop dreaming of tomorrow and dream of today.
I’d go to Portugal with my fiance; see all the beautiful scenery, the history, eat food, drink wine. Amazing <3
I’d like to travel across Canada in a motor home.
I’d like to take my husband and children to to a Family Reunion so they can get to know relatives.
Travelalways is more fun together
I want to experience hanging out in a rainforest.
If i had a chance, I would go back to school to learn to teach and give back knowledge
Would love to visit our relatives in Nova Scotia.
If I had the chance I’d like to travel around the world.
So many travel dreams – perhaps a road trip around North America 🙂
Would love to explore Galapagos as a family – big dream for us!
I would love to bring my princess to Disneyland and act like a kid with her!
I would love to take a trip to Europe with the family.
Montreal is always my fav roadtrip
I would go ziplining.
I would take everyone to England to see where their ancestors came from 🙂
I would love to take my daughter on a real vacation being that she is sick with kidney disease and myself with cancer we have never been able to,
We would go to Disney and camp all along the way 🙂
If I had a chance I’d take my kids to the resort in Cuba where my husband & I were married. It’d be great to go back and show the girls where we were married, and I think they’d love Cuba!