Several months ago I started the habit of putting my hand in my pocket each morning and pulling it out, seemingly empty, and saying to my daughters, "Here, take my love and put it in your pocket and it will be with you all day long." The second day I did it they reached into their pockets and pulled out "yesterday's love" and gave it back to me. I tucked it into my bra where it could be recycled for the next day. Now, if I forget to start the day this way, they say to me, "Mama, you forgot to give us love today!" and then the exchange, and counter exchange takes place.
Yesterday I blogged about the dilemma of encouraging my daughter versus downright shoving her into something.
Yesterday afternoon my son came home from rock climbing at the rec department saying he was afraid - not only of the rocks - but of saying hi to another boy there that he knew. "If he didn't say hi either, he must be scared too." I told him. "Think how impressed he'll be that you're brave enough to say hi first."
And last night I tweeted that my other son is skillful at many things - not the least of which is DRIVING ME CRAZY. If I say, "Don't touch that." his tongue shoots out of his mouth of its own accord and licks the object and when I look at him, incredulous, he says, "You didn't say not to LICK it!" At which point my head explodes and the conversation is paused while we mop up the mess.
So why the hell do I do it? Besides of course that the hospital's return policy on babies SUCKS?
Well tonight I was itching to get to the gym but I had to make it through bathtime first. It was two down, two to go and my 4yo daughter was next in line. She got into the shower but she needs help so as I stood there washing her hair she said something about love. I gasped! "YOU!" I told her, "You forgot to give me love today!"
She put her two hands together as if she were carrying quite a load and said, "Here is A LOT of love for you."
"That's not love!" I objected. Then gesturing to her naked, soapy body, added "You don't even have any POCKETS!"
"No." she countered. "I was carrying it in my heart."
And THAT is the point of motherhood.
gets to the guts of my heart!
Posted by: Dahlia Zamarripa | June 28, 2011 at 09:07 AM
Aw you made me all misty. Love it.
Posted by: Kate | June 28, 2011 at 09:07 AM
Awwww... THAT is awesome.
Posted by: Chunky Mama | June 28, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Thanks for reminding me of how sweet kids can be. Now I just need my kids to do something sweet so that I can forget about the morning we just had.
Posted by: Jen | June 28, 2011 at 11:05 AM
I love it!!!
Posted by: Camille | June 28, 2011 at 01:21 PM
This melted me. It's so precious.
Posted by: adelheid | June 28, 2011 at 02:26 PM
They have to have those moments or we would go insane raising them. There are days why I fully understand why animals eat their young! Just sayin'!
Posted by: Wicked | June 28, 2011 at 03:23 PM
way to make me tear up at work!
Posted by: janene | June 28, 2011 at 03:58 PM
Awww... that was so great!!
Posted by: Sandy | June 28, 2011 at 05:51 PM
Now you know why the hospital's return policy on babies sucks, they just don't want us to miss on moments like that :D
Posted by: Valentina @baby quilts | June 29, 2011 at 02:15 AM
So gorgeous. We have a similar thing of blowing kisses and catching them all our faces. I love these little games.
M2M
Posted by: hpretty | June 29, 2011 at 05:58 AM
Those little suckers know how to get to you every time. Sheesh! Love that, and I'm glad you found me on Twitter so I can blog-stalk you now. :-)
Posted by: Talkative Taurus | June 29, 2011 at 08:17 AM
I literally "awwwwwww"'d.
Posted by: John | June 29, 2011 at 08:22 AM
How do kids do that? One minute you're considering murdering them and the next you wanna crush the with cuddles.
I say it's a survival instinct.
Posted by: Laura @ Eight Days Designs | June 29, 2011 at 05:45 PM
The awwww moments make it all worthwhile
Posted by: TropicallyAnon | June 29, 2011 at 07:39 PM
beautiful.
Posted by: kate | July 04, 2011 at 02:21 PM