Three weeks ago Trae took off walking on his own.He was hanging on to the back of Blair's shirt and she pulled away from him. There he was, all by himself in the middle of the floor. His expression was a look of abandonment. He muttered, "araringnduh" and with legs stiff, arms outstretched - reminiscent of Frankenstein, he walked to the ottoman. We quieted so we wouldn't disturb his effort. I am very glad we have a soft ottoman because his approach to it was a bit rough. His big grin evidenced his confidence and accomplishment.
We cheered at this milestone and being true to form, my eyes misted thinking that my infant was quickly becoming my toddler.
"Soon you'll be twenty" I thought to myself.
That's what my mom used to say. I was 4 and feeling sad as I watched my brothers and sister leave for school one morning. I stood next to my mom as she was washing the dishes, her green skirt covered by a pretty apron. I held on to her legs and she bent down and told me not to rush time because before I knew it, I'd be twenty. 'Be happy in the now", she'd say. Then she brought over a chair and filled my side of the sink with soapy water and gave me some Tupperware to wash. Being 4 + playing in warm, soapy water = happiness!
With so many places to be, shuttling the kids here and there and running off to meetings, I ask myself if I am just a spectator in their lives watching them jump in and out of the car to the never ending appointments? Or am I savoring these fun moments with them in their young lives? I saw a little boy in a store a while back ask his mother a question over and over but she ignored him. She didn't notice that he wanted to show her something funny. He wasn't bothering anyone but I thought that she may have thought so. (Kinda like in sacrament meeting, you feel that your kids are always the loudest.)
So I wondered if I was guilty of that too. In my everyday rush, am I really noticing their needs?
Not the food, shelter, water, clothing needs. But the little, everyday, seemingly insignificant needs. The need for my attention to the little things they want to show me. Those types of moments they remember longer than we think they do. Does this make sense?
That's why when Blair Noel wants to be dressed in pink from head to toe, I'm all for it. There's never too much pink. And when she makes me sing Demi Lovato songs into her thumb (as the microphone), even in the store, we rock out. When Belen and Charley want to discuss books, I'm all ears. When they rest their head on my shoulder, I don't want to move and when Reese wants to sit on my lap or play Bakugan, I enjoy it.
Because before I know it, they'll be twenty.
All this from a couple of baby steps...
