“mama can you play with me?”
“mama I want to go (pretend) shopping with you”
“mama can I cook with you?”
“mama, can we read together”
mama…mama…mama
So many times a day they call my name. Dozens of requests for attention and interaction. It’s beautiful in the most tiring of ways. I love that they want to spend time together. I love that they want to help and try their best to do what they are much to small to achieve.
Kids are fantastic, and hungry for time together in the most inconvenient of ways.
I catch myself getting annoyed too much. “This would be so much easier if I could just do it myself” I think. Or “I would be done by now if they weren’t trying to help”. And yet, the beauty of life is found in those little inconveniences.
In getting water splashed all over me as they attempt to help with the dishes.
In rushing to help them, help me put away the dishes so that nothing is broken (including their desire to be of assistance).
I admit, some days I grow weary of all the demands and the neverending requests. It’s hard to be #1 to some one. Even harder to be that to two little lives, and yet this season which is so numbingly difficult today will seem all too swift tomorrow.
When they pack up their bags and go to school or pack up their cars and head off to see the world. Those days are around the corner and I don’t want to miss these little moments of inconvenience.
These times when we could be laughing together instead of getting annoyed.
The days when I could race vaccuum cleaners with him instead of scolding him to not bang into my Dyson with his toy cleaner.
I find myself amazed on the days when I let go a little. When I allow myself to be splashed and burdened with all the help my 3 and 2 year olds can muster, I see how easy life becomes. How a simple “yes” lights up their whole world.
How letting them help, even when they are a bit too small to be of any actual assistance, makes them feel invincible and loved beyond measure.
I see tantrums diminished when I just take the time to see life as they do, as something to be lived together.
Life gets easier when we are doing it together.
Sure, the task itself may be more difficult, but the smiling, chubby faces make up for one thousand more difficult tasks. The distinct lack of tantrums in this moment changes the difficult job into one to be laughed through and enjoyed.
I know there will come a day when I will have to beg them to help me around the house, or even to come home to it. So right now, as they are so caught up in me being their mom and wanting to spend every moment of every day with me, I try to let loose a little. I try to cuddle more, and play candy land yet again or let them splash water on the floor while “we” do the dishes (it probably needed mopped anyway).
I know these moments won’t last forever even though in the moment they seem to.
Here’s to saying yes. To embracing life together even when it’s inconvenient. Here’s to days with less tears and more laughter.
Here’s to together.
Cassandra stone says
What a beautiful reminder. So many of us get stuck feeling annoyed Instead of remembering these years are so few and so short. I love the moments when I can let go and laugh with them. When something spills and instead of losing it, I can teach and enjoy cleaning it up together. Thank you for sharing.
Angela Pruess says
Beautifully said. I need these reminders weekly!! Thanks for sharing. Also, love that you share your beautiful family with us:)