Being a mum has brought me a greater understanding of who I am. When children are very young, they mimic us, at times they act almost like a magnifying glass, really honing in on particular traits that we have. Allowing us to see who we really are and giving us the opportunity to work on parts of ourselves that we may not be happy with.

Of course we could chose to just ignore those characteristics that they highlight, pass them off as cute or just a phase. But we really are missing out if we do so. In the first few years of their lives, our children absorb everything around them. They watch us like hawk,s as they seek to learn how to navigate the world that they were born into. So everything we do and say is taken in.

That is quite the responsibility when you think about it. We all have ideas about how we wish our children to grow up, and although it is important to let them explore for themselves, we do control much of the environment that they are exposed to. They look to us, to see how we respond to different situations and you may often find, that they too will react in the same way if it arises again.

One of the biggest things I have seen parents pass on to their children is their fears. And although we may prevent ourselves from voicing them, our children are masters at reading body language. Which makes it difficult to give them complete freedom, when it comes to discovering things for themselves. But being aware is the first step and they really help us in being more aware and ore present.

I like to give my girls a lot of freedom, freedom to roam, freedom to learn, to explore. But their are certain things that I do not. Through my actions I have shown them how important it is to be respectful towards all living things. I have also discussed with them how important it is that they help out at home, because it is their home as much as mine and we are all responsible for it.

I have come across a lot of parents who believe that giving their children freedom in all things is the best way to be, mostly the freedom to act how they please without any consequences. I have seen how this has resulted in those children believing that this is how they should behave and as a result have little respect for their environment.

I am known for being a mum who will speak up for the trees and plants, who will use her voice to say how it is not okay to destroy them. I am that mum who will approach kids when they are using fireworks around animals. I am also that mum who will talk about the many products that are tested on animals and how we all have a choice when it comes to how we wish to live.

I really believe that our children need to know all of the world that they live in, not all the horrible details, but they need to know how animals are mistreated and that we do not have to support it. This is something we do have control over.

I am also the very proud mama who has heard her girls speak up for the trees and the animals too. If you want your kids to be caring and conscious, then it has to start with you! How you live and how you interact with the world.

I read a great quote recently that said something a long the lines of

I want to change the world, so I raise conscious children!

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