chicken gloves

Sometimes my 7 year old is loud.  He makes me laugh even when he knows I am just about at Mad and don’t want to laugh. He can get carried away with his string bean bouncy body.  He does things that aren’t quite inappropriate but then again just might be.  He has a huge imagination and can remember just about any detail that he encounters.  He is a math wizard and sometimes I wonder if he has enough humility. 

Today I overheard a conversation at the kitchen table as I was crossing through the room.  Just one sentence from my boy.  He said it quietly as much to himself as anyone around.  He wasn’t saying it for show.

  “Never make fun of anyone, except yourself.”

It resonated with me so much.  It was that exact moment when I really, really needed to hear something to encourage me as a mother. I am not sure if I have ever said those words to him but he absorbed it….the knowing of right and wrong.  He has empathy!

So now with each day when I am out in the big world carrying around all my insecurities and my lack of self confidence, I have this.  I am raising children and it is my favorite thing ever, but am I doing it right?  How do I know?  I can do better, I know that!  Sometimes it all flows and the kids go up in height and age and I step back and look at this, the marvel of it all and I feel so vulnerable. These kids need to gain their independence from their Dad and I in the most loving, kind, secure way. And from that very first step that was encouraged with clapping and open arms at each end, they have continued to step forward.

Unknowingly Henry just gave me a big loving boost of courage. 

photo by maggie

PS My husband’s latest deployment was cancelled.  C-A-N-C-E-L-L-E-D!!!