tugs at my heartstrings....
As I get ready to give my "baby" his babybook, and my "baby" girl her babybook, I feel tugs at my heartstrings. Remembering, and hoping they experience in some way the wonderful amazing heartwarming touches that only babies can give us, things that only babies can teach us, the confidence in a small hand reaching out to hold ours in complete trust. Hugs with no conditions. Two year olds seeing the world through their own eyes and vocabularies. Nothing like it, ever!!
And how happy we are that those little babies, all four of them, are now our best friends with spouses we love as our own. How fortunate we are.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Monday, August 24, 2009
The First Days of School from S to T
The little girl laid in the bottom of the bunkbed that she shared with her sister. Tomorrow was her first day of kindergarden and she was more than frightened. She had kept her feelings to herself other than expressing the fact that she didn't ever want to go to school. She pulled the wool comforter her grandmother had made for her up to her neck and almost over her face. The concerned mother saw her small daughter's fear and knew she had a battle ahead of her the following morning. She knew that it wasn't stubborness but genuine fear and anxiety that was consuming the heart and mind of her daughter. Finally she asked the sobbing child, "What is it that you are so afraid of?" No answer. More heartbroken tears. Again, she asked,"What are you afraid of, sweetheart?" No answer. Even more tears. And once again the mother asked the question. Slowly the little girl pulled down the covers and shook with weeping, and out came the fear and with certainty in her words she said, "The other kids are going to beat me up." Where had this little one gotten this dreadful idea? But for certain, she believed it. How could her mother convince her that those ideas would not take place. Then again, the thought nudged the mother's thinking of the bullies in this world. How could she prepare her child to respond to the bullies yet assure her that all would be well tomorrow. Kind words fell from her mouth. Today she can't remember what they were but the little girl curled up under her warm covers, wiped away her tears, and slipped into a deep sleep that would give her the necessary strength to face tomorrow.
Her sister two years later could go to school before she turned five in the middle of September. But she showed no interest in school and her mother thought, why push her into the world if she didn't really care about school. At this point the little girl cared only about what dress she would wear tomorrow or the next day or the next. So the little girl waited another year and within five days of entering school asked her mommy, "Can I go home with Deanna tomorrow night?" It was three years after her older sister had started school. It would be another three years before the older sister herself would ask to spend the night with a friend. The difference in the social life of siblings can be totally opposite as the story of these two sisters convey.
The third sister sought attention and it was easily given because she was so very bright. She wanted to go to school and didn't want to go. Should the mother seek out special testing to allow this brilliant active little girl start to school early? Again the mother felt the pull of keeping her little one at home one more year. Keeping her home that extra year might strengthen her little body that was asthmatic during the late days of summer and early days of fall because of heavy pollen that often filled the humid air at that time of year. Emotional stress seriously effected the asthma in this little child. Would another year add more maturity to this little's one's social life that would help her cope better? Mother took a deep breathe and her arms and heart crept around her little one and they spent another year together along with a little brother.
The little brother's turn came to enter school. It was simple to him. "Why do I have to go to school? Grandpa can teach me everything I need to know for life." Experiences with Grandpa had shown this little mind that Grandpa was a walking encyclopedia. Not only did Grandpa read and teach him things early every morning, Grandpa showed him where the burr came from, what plant produced it and why it stuck to his little jeans. Grandpa shared his knowledge of trees, birds, and chores. They loved each other. You could see it in the looks they gave each other and the big gentle hand clasped the small fingers of the five year old boy as they walked through nature together.
It touches my heart to think back on these four five year olds as they faced their first day of school. The tears poured down my face as each little one stepped on the school bus. The empty nest was not something I hoped for or enjoyed at all. And now most every day that nest is occupied by these kindergardner's little ones. We are so blessed. Oh, to be the right inspiration, the right example, grandparents that know how to show love, support, and guidance, spiritually and naturally, to our little girls' and boy's little girls and boys.
And that's the story of the first days of school from Scarlett to Troy.
Her sister two years later could go to school before she turned five in the middle of September. But she showed no interest in school and her mother thought, why push her into the world if she didn't really care about school. At this point the little girl cared only about what dress she would wear tomorrow or the next day or the next. So the little girl waited another year and within five days of entering school asked her mommy, "Can I go home with Deanna tomorrow night?" It was three years after her older sister had started school. It would be another three years before the older sister herself would ask to spend the night with a friend. The difference in the social life of siblings can be totally opposite as the story of these two sisters convey.
The third sister sought attention and it was easily given because she was so very bright. She wanted to go to school and didn't want to go. Should the mother seek out special testing to allow this brilliant active little girl start to school early? Again the mother felt the pull of keeping her little one at home one more year. Keeping her home that extra year might strengthen her little body that was asthmatic during the late days of summer and early days of fall because of heavy pollen that often filled the humid air at that time of year. Emotional stress seriously effected the asthma in this little child. Would another year add more maturity to this little's one's social life that would help her cope better? Mother took a deep breathe and her arms and heart crept around her little one and they spent another year together along with a little brother.
The little brother's turn came to enter school. It was simple to him. "Why do I have to go to school? Grandpa can teach me everything I need to know for life." Experiences with Grandpa had shown this little mind that Grandpa was a walking encyclopedia. Not only did Grandpa read and teach him things early every morning, Grandpa showed him where the burr came from, what plant produced it and why it stuck to his little jeans. Grandpa shared his knowledge of trees, birds, and chores. They loved each other. You could see it in the looks they gave each other and the big gentle hand clasped the small fingers of the five year old boy as they walked through nature together.
It touches my heart to think back on these four five year olds as they faced their first day of school. The tears poured down my face as each little one stepped on the school bus. The empty nest was not something I hoped for or enjoyed at all. And now most every day that nest is occupied by these kindergardner's little ones. We are so blessed. Oh, to be the right inspiration, the right example, grandparents that know how to show love, support, and guidance, spiritually and naturally, to our little girls' and boy's little girls and boys.
And that's the story of the first days of school from Scarlett to Troy.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
As the tiny little earthworm made it's quiet way across the hot sidewalk, it couldn't know that the small running two year old would stop and watch with curious eyes. As I picked up the wiggling worm and held it in my hand, the toddler watched with curiosity and amazement. No, he didn't want to hold it. I put it down on the sun pelted walk and his blue eyes watched with a sad expression. Not satisfied, he continued to stare at the worm. I gently picked it up and placed it in the grass. A small smile filled his face and he took my hand and we headed home for a nap.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Little hands, what will you hold?
Little hands clasped the bottle. I noticed the similarity between the tiny hands of my 22 month old grandson and his daddy. And then I began to wonder? What will they hold? Will they hold a Bible everyday? Will they control the big steering wheel of an 18-wheeler? Will they caress the hand of a true love and best friend someday? Will they hold the precision equipment of a surgeon or will they control the reins of horses? Will those little fingers play notes that touch the hearts of the weary? Will they support me when I am old? I think so.
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