small wonders
I just tucked my 10 year old son into bed. He's in the 5th grade this year and I am amazed at how he is growing up so quickly before my eyes. I have two older children so its not like Ive never done this before but this time its different. I remember 5th Grade well. I hated it. 5th Grade boys were not nice to me. I look at my son and see a caring goofy sensitive person. He's funny but not sarcastic or mean spirited. Where were these traits in the boys I knew way back when? His teachers mention these same qualities so I know its not just a mothers perspective. He is a beautiful boy.
Of all our children my son is the only one who insists on being tucked in at night. He likes to go to sleep saying good night and wake to me saying good morning. He is at the transitional age when I know soon he's going to want to spread his wings and stand on his own more. One night soon he will say goodnight in the livingroom and climb into bed, maybe even with the lamp off, and wake to an alarm clock. Next year he will be attending middle school and will be getting himself on the bus after I leave for work. Thank God I have some time to digest that thought.
I read a book years ago, by Karen Kingsbury , that had a poem about how she always took note of her children's "firsts", you know like first steps, first tooth, etc... but that she forgot to take notice of all the lasts. That poem really changed the way I viewed my time with my children. Some things are difficult to accept that they will someday soon be ending. For example, my son will still take my hand in the hallway of his school. He will gladly hug me in front of his friends. He will cry in my arms when his feelings are hurt. He will ask me to read a book at night if the television show we watched was a little too intense. Im not ashamed to admit that I will shed some tears when these small but beautiful moments are memories instead of realities.
I am thankful every day for my three wonderful children and work hard to raise them to be caring, God fearing , responsible people. And in that, show them how much I love them. I love them enough to be the bad guy when a lesson is being learned and the experience is causing growth in their character. I love them enough to work hard then come home and work harder to keep this home and family a place worthy of the title "home". And a day has never gone by that they havent heard me affirm more than once that I love them and always will, no matter what.
Truth be told, I love being their mother. There is no job more rewarding. Some may dream of traveling and seeing the seven wonders of the world. My dream is to live, laugh and love these three small wonders.
Thank You Lord for children. Now I understand why you made us.
Of all our children my son is the only one who insists on being tucked in at night. He likes to go to sleep saying good night and wake to me saying good morning. He is at the transitional age when I know soon he's going to want to spread his wings and stand on his own more. One night soon he will say goodnight in the livingroom and climb into bed, maybe even with the lamp off, and wake to an alarm clock. Next year he will be attending middle school and will be getting himself on the bus after I leave for work. Thank God I have some time to digest that thought.
I read a book years ago, by Karen Kingsbury , that had a poem about how she always took note of her children's "firsts", you know like first steps, first tooth, etc... but that she forgot to take notice of all the lasts. That poem really changed the way I viewed my time with my children. Some things are difficult to accept that they will someday soon be ending. For example, my son will still take my hand in the hallway of his school. He will gladly hug me in front of his friends. He will cry in my arms when his feelings are hurt. He will ask me to read a book at night if the television show we watched was a little too intense. Im not ashamed to admit that I will shed some tears when these small but beautiful moments are memories instead of realities.
I am thankful every day for my three wonderful children and work hard to raise them to be caring, God fearing , responsible people. And in that, show them how much I love them. I love them enough to be the bad guy when a lesson is being learned and the experience is causing growth in their character. I love them enough to work hard then come home and work harder to keep this home and family a place worthy of the title "home". And a day has never gone by that they havent heard me affirm more than once that I love them and always will, no matter what.
Truth be told, I love being their mother. There is no job more rewarding. Some may dream of traveling and seeing the seven wonders of the world. My dream is to live, laugh and love these three small wonders.
Thank You Lord for children. Now I understand why you made us.