My wake up call - AKA - Kids and Brutal Honesty
So, here I am, going about my day….and then WHAM! I hit the brick wall of my 5 year old’s honesty.
She tip toes in from gymnastics - walks right up to me, pats me on the stomach and says,
“Wow, Mommy….do you have a baby in your tummy? It is Reeeallllyy big.”
And I am instantly struck with the child-like urge to push her down.
But, you will be happy to know, I resist.
Not because I want to (the truth is - I really want to push her) but because I am a Mommy (read: adult who is supposed to have little to know sensitivity when it comes to dealing with the uncensored ramblings of small people)
I am expected to have thick skin when it comes to this type of thing, right? I mean….it isn’t like she was trying to hurt my feelings. But, it sort of made me want to grab a bag of Oreos. And push her down. I already mentioned that part, right?
Clearly, this is a sensitive topic for me. Because I have been wondering the very same thing about myself. It feels like I haven’t been to the gym since 1987. And I know my eating has been suspect.
Yet, I am surrounded by friends who ‘pshaw’ when I talk about it.
“you don’t need to lose weight.” “your eating is fine.” “you are TINY!”
But the small person doesn’t have that type of censoring. She calls is like she sees it.
And she sees what I have been trying to avoid: that I needed a little wake-up call.
Want to meet me at the gym in the morning?
Do it again!
OK…this cracks me up. I can’t help it, and it is probably oh-so-very-wrong on oh-so-many-levels.
My two year old son is just about the cutest little guy in the world (so what if I’m prejudiced!)
I LOVE to hear him giggle.
He still wears a diaper. Which means I still have to wipe him.
He laughs when I wipe him.
And he almost always says, “Do it again.” And it isn’t because he’s worried I didn’t clean him off well enough.
It makes me laugh. And I have to stop myself from doing it again - just to make him laugh.
How wrong is that?
I’m thinking this is a story he WON’T want me to share with his Prom date….
KnowwhatImean?
It only takes a moment
In just the blink of an eye, your entire perspective can shift. I’ve always known this….and it usually occurs to me when I am hearing bad news: a cancer diagnosis, a car accident, the death of a parent or child. You can’t help but think of what you have and how quickly things can change.
But the very same thing can happen in a positive light…it only takes a single sentence, a smile, or someone holding the door open for you as you struggle with an armful. It is just up to us to pay attention and appreciate the moment.
Today, that moment’was just ‘a secret’ from my 4 year old. We went to a different church today to visit the priest who had married us (I’ll talk more about him another time….he is truly a one-of-a-kind).
Delaney was sitting peacefully on my lap….behaving as well as ever. I was taking in the service and deep in thought over some current obstacles in my life. She was listening intently to the choir, when she tilted her little face up to look at me. She took a deep breath and said, “Mommy, can I tell you a secret?” I nodded and leaned in close, “Mommy, I love you with all of Jesus’ love.”
It may not sound earth-shattering, but for my little girl, at that moment, to know that I needed her love and Jesus’ love, was momumental. Every now and then, I am aware, that staring into the eyes of my children is just like coming face to face with an angel.
The red moustache
What in the world? What does a red moustache have to do with ANYTHING?
Adding it to the list of things my kids say that crack me up.
Delaney comes to me this afternoon, full of excitement and lifting her shirt to show me her tummy, “Look, Mommy, my red moustache is gone.”
I think. One. Two. Three seconds pass. Red moustache? On her stomach?
Light Bulb! Red Rash. She developed a red rash on her tummy just above the top of her jeans last night while we were dancing around the family room.
Thank heavens I figured that out! What would I do with a 4 year old who had a red moustache on her tummy?
(Circus…I know that is what you are thinking…it might have been my only option)
In case you are wondering…
When your child suddenly says, “well this is disturbing” in the middle of a truly tame cartoon when you are on vacation at a friend’s house at the lake…it makes you wonder what her little mind is doing…
Never fear….she isn’t talking about the show….she is simply thinking ahead.
“What’s disturbing Delaney?”
“We have to go home today.”
There you have it.
Out of the mouths of babes
Delaney comes to the door of my office.
She says, “Mommy, I have a surprise for you.”
I turn around in my chair.
She says, “He’s furry. He’s blond. He carries a blue bit (blanket). And he has itty-bitty feet. Here he is….presenting: Cooper!”
What an introduction for the little guy.
Hmmmm….I wonder where she gets the ‘furry’ part?
Who did this?
Coop’s new habit? Sharing his inevitable misdeeds. With a question.
“Hoo did dis?” (Who did this?)
Who wrote in pen on our new couch pillows? (that’s what he’s showing me in the picture)
Who colored on the wall in blue crayon?
Who colored on Delaney’s dresser in red crayon?
Who emptied the toothpaste tube on the bedspread?
Who covered his bedroom window in Vaseline? (yes, that one was especially fun)
I always say, “You tell me.”
And he always says, “I di it.”
At least he’s honest. And who can resist that face?
PS: Go visit the Blog Train!
