Sitting with him

It's probably not a big surprise to any of you that I'm a busy lady. Keeping up with the needs of three little guys, remodeling our home, a pregnancy involving weekly appointments, physical and occupational therapy appointments for K, and just day to day life some times proves to be difficult. There is a certain feeling of being behind that tends to follow me around. It is not an invited or welcomed feeling and yet, rather comfortable in familiarity. Sometimes I realize that I need to slow down. Sometimes I don't. Sometimes I forge full speed ahead only to become quite useless to my family hours later when I collapse on the couch in an exhausted, grumpy weary, and defeated state. Ah - but then there are those moments when I allow God to catch my attention and re focus my mind on all things beautiful and important. One of those moments involved me frantically throwing toys back into the toy room while trying to finish up paying bills, while one load of laundry was being washed and one load was being dried. The younger boys were napping, and K was... well he was some where. Probably playing his "My first Computer" or picking out a DVD for his rest time. Then his little voice broke through the mental grocery list I was in process of creating. "Mom, can you sit with me?" I looked up and saw him on the couch pulling a soft blanket around his legs. He looked awfully cute. I smiled, but my lips began to form the familiar reply of "In a minute." Sit with him? Just sit? I don't know how to just sit. Especially when there is dirt on my kitchen floor and clothes to be sorted. Sitting would be almost impossible. And necessary. And helpful to two people on so many levels. I stopped the words from coming out of my mouth and mentally shut out the work waiting for me. "Yeah baby, I'll sit with you". I cradled my 6 1/2 year old in my lap and watched his face transform into smiles. And surprise surprise! I didn't immediately melt from sitting on the couch while work needed to be done. No alarms sounded. K is so quiet and usually very laid back. He entertains himself so easily. His brothers tend to be higher maintenance. As I caressed his brown hair and looked into his hazel eyes I made a realization that spending time with him - just being together - hadn't been real high on my priority list. Because he seems so happy to do his own thing, I sometimes allow the importance of seeking him out and bonding with him to slip. He's not the kind of guy to complain much, but he feels so much inside. "Hey bud, how are you doing?" I quietly asked. "GOOD!" He replied enthusiastically. He buried his head in the blanket. "Mom! Where's K? Did you leave him outside?!" He screeched out his laughter as he initiated one of our favorite games. "Oh no! He's still in the sand box, or maybe I left him in his swing and he can't get out!" I played along smiling, knowing what his next move would be. POP! Out of the blanket came a sweet little boy who could hardly contain his excitement. He was laughing so hard he could barely talk. "Here I am mom! I was right here!" We played a few more rounds or "Where in the world could K be?!" and then we just talked. Little things, maybe insignificant to some, but I was beginning to realize that these moments, little games, and conversations were really of utmost importance. What did you learn about in Sunday school on Sunday? Jesus. And snacks. Are you excited about kindergarten this fall? Yay-ah!! When do I get to go?! Do you want an ice cream bar? Mommy wants one; do you want me to get you one too? Mom, do they have sticks in the middle? Um, no. Then they aren't ice cream bars mom! They are called ice cream sandwiches! Thank you K. I keep calling them the wrong thing don't I? You are silly mom! Eventually I got back to the million and one things that needed to be done, but I had the satisfaction of knowing that one of the most important things had been pursued. And there was a certain peace in my heart that had previously not been there.

This post is part o f Tuesdays unwrapped @ Chatting at the Sky. Click on the link to check out the beautiful and every day moments that others are choosing to embrace.