I thought I did not want to be a mom. And then, it happened. The entire trajectory and purpose of my life changed in that instant and it is something that only other parents can understand – you don't know until you've been there. The bond I have with my kids is something that I treasure and is like nothing else I have ever felt or experienced. Sure, parenting can be frustrating at times (really, I have to tell them to clean their room again?!) but it is the little moments that are the things I know I will remember most.  What makes your kid extraordinary isn’t just the epic stuff. It’s the little things. The small moments that maybe only you see — and quietly celebrate every day.

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 The time when my son Matthew was so happy he just started dancing and he had to show me all of his dance moves. Of course, being the the son of a scrapbooker, he demanded I take photos!

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 Or the time when my daughter Katie wanted a steampunk Halloween costume and we stayed up until 3 in the morning making it, all the while teaching her about sewing.

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That time when I spotted Matthew picking strawberries in the garden, feeding one to himself and then one to the dog as he picked them.

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The day when Katie tried to tell all of us that we were saying the word “magazine” improperly – “it's mazaGINE!”.

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Life is tough – there are bills to pay, jobs to go to, broken down cars to repair, dishes to wash… but in the long run, it is these little moments that I treasure and will remember most with my kids. Who wants to remember dirty dishes anyways?!  

Share your love, hope and pride for your extraordinary kid by creating a personalized video that captures what makes them one-of-a-kind. I made this video using this fabulous tool over at Stanford Children's Health

 http://yourextraordinarykid.org/view/6a66e2cec79086dc46bf3bd7d098d1b25d13907e

Your kid is extraordinary. Show them how much you enjoy every moment together by creating a special video of your own!

Now, how do you keep your extraordinary kid healthy? I'm happy to share with you info about Stanford Children's Health and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford!  Stanford Children’s Health and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford has been the top-ranked children’s hospital in Northern California for over a decade. Plus, Stanford Children’s Health is the largest Bay Area healthcare provider with an exclusive focus on children and expectant women. Whether your visit is routine or rare, Stanford Children’s Health is committed to providing extraordinary care for healthier happy lives. Seriously, I wish I lived in the Bay Area! Stanford Children's Health is within 10 miles of most Bay Area homes. Katie has been hinting that she wants to go to Stanford for college….

Wherever you live, make sure your kid knows how extraordinary they are. 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Author: Jennifer Priest

It started with jewelry, beading, sewing, home decor, painting, basket weaving, pottery, and cross-stitch. Marry that to an entrepreneurial spirit & at 9 years old a girl is selling her wares at craft fairs as far as her parents and grandparents would drive her. These days, Jennifer enjoys crafts of all genres from sewing to scrapbooking to jewelry with a little dabbling in the mixed media world. Her style is approachable and she wants everyone who sees her work to feel that they too can embrace creativity and make their home and life beautiful.

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