Attention Seeking

Attention seeking behaviours can be dramatic and excessive and incredibly creative.  Somehow in spite of their wide ranging scope and intrigue, they always seem to have a bad reputation.  In fact, most often they illicit the exact opposite of what they are seeking!   With great joy, I am now welcoming the love of attention that we all so desire.   I am learning to both give and receive attention with more reckless abandon and enjoyment.  As I am allowing myself more loving attention from both myself and others, I am hoping to grow in paying more attention to those around me.  It is not always easy to decipher the cries for attention in the crazy behaviours of both myself and others.  Sometimes it means standing still for a time.  Long enough to really listen with both my ears and heart.  Of course it is often much more complicated than it seems.  Many of our kids have learned to effectively turn off their need for attention.  The attention they got was either too painful or never enough.  Sometimes the behaviours are so intermingled with a million different needs and it is hard to know where to start.  It is hard to know how to give the right kind of attention.

One of my daughters was at a youth group event tonight where they washed one another's feet.  It was fun and it sure felt good.  The kids were learning to attend to one another in a new way!

I remember our skittish cat who really did want attention in spite of his independent and rugged exterior.  Sometimes I need to slow down, pay attention, extend my love and my arms and wait.  Learn how to pay attention in the different and unique ways that those around us need.  Be patient and still of heart.  Learn to accept attention myself and be generous in the attending to those around me.   Instead of fighting the attention seeking behaviours, try meeting them at their core.  I can watch a movie with our kids, take them for a treat, go for a walk, or surprise them with the gift of time together even if it is just going out for an hour doing errands with them alone. My husband makes the most mundane chores into times of adventure with individual kids. I can hardly wait for the times that it is my turn to be with him alone for his amazing adventure day expeditions!  I am encouraged to extend and expand my attention in ways that are as varied, specific and creatively unique as those behaviours asking for it.