"fish" food for thought

as grace and i watched "finding nemo" today, i realized why this movie is one of my all time favorites. it is as if the movie was written for me as a parent guidebook. i, so often, want to shelter my children from harm and have to find balance to let them enjoy life--i often even say i want to "put them in a bubble." i truly am happiest when we are all together--snuggled up in bed or simply sitting at the dinner table talking. i hope to encourage my children to take safe risks as my parents have always taught us in life. todd and i never stay stagnant, so why would i expect any less from my children...however, i do worry. but the lessons taught by marlin, dory, and nemo are some of the best ones i know of.

marlin: "the water's going down. it's half empty!!!"

dory: "hmmm...i'd say it's half full."

nemo: dad, you can let go now."

marlin: "sorry...now go have an adventure."

dory: "he says it's time to let go. everything's going to be all right."

marlin: "how do you know? how do you know something bad isn't going to happen?"

dory: "i don't!"

and my favorite:

marlin: "i promised i'd never let anything happen to him."

dory" "hmmmm, that's a funny thing to promise."

marlin: "what?"

dory: "well, you can't never let anything happen to him. then nothing would ever happen to him."