Between the Scout-Fiasco thing, the Recovering-From-Travel thing, the Various-and-Sundry-Forever-Home projects, and our return to school, this week flew right by. It seems fitting to touch base on how quickly time always flies by, regardless of our activities or pursuits, and how we hope those pursuits serve us well in the end. In the blink of an eye.
Tonight, my baby, the one who cried and cried during the "Heavy and Light" song from Elmopalooza -- because he worried so very much about poor Elmo -- watched Tremors, and Tremors 2: Aftershocks. He laughed at the funny parts. He appreciated the suspenseful parts. He fell in love with the characters and spent the rest of the day coming up with ideas for Tremors 5 - 10. He dissected the features that go into creating the mood of a movie, compared and contrasted Jurassic Park to Tremors, and then begged us to let him watch The Thing. He'll still happily watch Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang and sing through the great songs and dance with his little siblings.
I'm struck by a few things. First, and foremost, Where Did My BABY Go? But later, when I'm done with my panicky fit, I also think, "Wow. Who is this well-adjusted, insightful, witty, intelligent young man?" Did we have anything to do with that? Or is he turning out this way in spite of us? And, "I'm so glad he's ours." Suddenly, that unfortunate incident with the bug net last month slips easily into perspective. The Big Picture is nice, and we are glad.
Obviously, when we see something good emerge, we hope to God it's us. When we cringe and think they'll never be able to live on their own, we look for some faulty ancestor on the other parent's side to blame it on. But the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle, and that's probably good. Heaven knows I don't want my Mom's Mom's Dad's Sister's issues to crop up, here. But if they do, we'll do our best to cushion the blow. On the other hand, if Zorak's Mom's Dad's brilliant mind happens to seep into the genetic blend, SCORE! And then, we'll do our best to prepare them to use it wisely and well.
No matter the situation, no matter the child, loving parents strive to do the best they can for the children in their care. That "best" will look different in every household, no matter how many windows you peek through. (Before you get arrested, that is. So, just take my word for it and don't do that, 'k?)
Tonight, we stocked up on movie choices for the Littles to watch in another room (no sense in scarring everybody all at once), and sat, watching our eldest child enter a new stage in his life. It was a very small thing, compared with the news of the day around the world, but in our world, it was a very big thing. And an important thing, that bodes well for so many tomorrows.
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
3 comments:
Having raised three sons, one who was a defiant prodigal pretty much from birth, I'll advise that under some circumstances you can drive yourself crazy with those kinds of questions. In the end, no matter how you've raised them, they will decide for themselves how to live, just as we did. Children are a gift from God, but sometimes His gifts are not easy ones. (Not meaning to be a downer here, just to give a caution!)
Well-taken. And, I think that was sort of my point, when they have a certain genetic bent that just has its own way in them. Then, all we can do is our best. In truth, whether they are easy or challenging, that's all we can ever do.
It's not like that just with children, but with every person we encounter in our lives. Do our best -- by ourselves, by them, and by the standard we choose to live by.
But we are enjoying these so very much. Even the challenging moments.
It sounds to me like you have a great gene pool and a lovely environment. Enjoy it all!
My sweetie and I always wondered if the great Creator didn't bless us because the recessive genes were scheduled to surface and he just knew we couldn't take it :<
Thank you God-Higher Power-Universe- who/whatever, for wonderful god babies, nephews, nieces and other special children we so enjoy
Thanks for sharing!
Pamela
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