Radiant

I try to resist the urge to tell my girls how beautiful they are almost every second of the day.  Heaven knows they hear it enough from random, well-meaning people.

It’s hard, though.

Of course I think they are the most magnificent creatures…but I try to focus instead on something other than physical features. 

I praise them for their kindness, for being gentle, affectionate.  I thank them for using nice manners.  I congratulate them on clever ideas and valiant efforts.   

And when the urge to tell them they’re beautiful strikes, I usually stroke their hair, or give them a kiss or a squeeze or a tickle, and tell them for the 100^th time that day how much Mommy loves them.

Of course I tell my girls they’re beautiful – they need to hear that message from Mommy, too.  But recently I’ve found myself using the word “radiant” much more often.

“What’s radiant, Mommy?”

I told the girls it’s another way to say “beautiful”, but it also describes something that emits light and energy, joy.

And that sums up my amazing girlies for me.   

Whether they’re squeaky clean from a bath, or dressed in their best for a Saturday lunch…or hot and sweaty from running through the backyard, bits of mulch stuck to their knees…

…they are radiant...exuding joy, emitting light, full of the most beautiful energy.