A New Title for Moms

Last night my mom sent me a link to a Mother’s Day video she had received from a friend.  The video was very sweet, like so many that are floating around the internet this week.  It went through all of the meaningful things that mother’s do and say and help children with throughout the years.  As the voice over listed words, qualities and titles, I thought I heard “Chief Inspiration Officer”.  When I played it back, they didn’t use those words exactly, but it really got me thinking.

Chief Inspiration Officer, or CIO, is the perfect title for every mom.    First off, a Chief or “C-Level” executive at a company is the leader, the visionary, the one that the entire team looks to for direction, insight and guidance.  I don’t know about you, but that description sounds like every mom I know.  An executive with a “Chief” title must be able to roll with the punches, make the hard decisions and be able to assure the team that it may be rough now, but they are all going to make it through. Sounds like a mom to me.  A “Chief” officer has a long list of responsibilities that they must establish, design, oversee, communicate, maintain, evaluate, utilize and manage.  Sounds like a mom to me.

Specifically, as the Chief Inspiration Officer a mom must foster their child’s creativity and encourage their curiosity.  The CIO introduces them the possibilities the world has to offer.  It is up to the child to discover what they are interested in, the CIO cannot and should not do that for them.  However, once they find an interest, it is up to the CIO to support those interests so that they might grow and flourish.  Those interests will in turn light the spark of inspiration within the child and fuel them for the rest of their lives.

There is one important distinction to make.  The Chief Inspiration Officer is not the source of the inspiration.  They are not the reason a child pursues a specific interest.  Like any great leader, the CIO must provide the overall vision then step back and allow the team fill in the details.  They provide the environment within which inspiration can be cultivated and nurtured.  They must lead by example.  When the CIO pursues their own interests, they provide a living example of the joy you can experience when you are doing things that excite and inspire you.

Here’s the thing, you've already been the filling this role whether you've realize it or not.  I'm going to fully embrace my new title, Chief Inspiration Officer and I hope you will too.  

Heart-FULLy Yours,    
Kacey
Chief Inspiration Officer
 
Journal on this: What does Inspiration mean to you?  How do you currently foster your child’s creativity?  What things are you doing to encourage your children to cultivate and grow the things that inspire them?       

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