My Beautiful Mess

Snippet #1, last Sunday:

Dad: Drew, do you want to wear this football shirt today since it is Super Bowl Sunday?
Drew: O.K. But I hope he doesn’t see his shadow.
Dad: You hope who doesn’t see his shadow?
Drew: The Super Mole.
(FYI: Monday was Groundhog Day.)

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Snippet #2 - Friday morning:

Cooper: I hope we have outdoor recess again today.
Mom: What did you do at recess yesterday?
Cooper (sheepishly): uuuumm….ran around.
Mom: Chasing people?
Cooper: yes
Mom: So the boys and girls were chasing each other, huh.
Cooper: Yes…HEY, how did you KNOW that?
Mom just raises her eyebrows.
Cooper stops and thinks: I know - you were in the workroom and saw me outside!
Mom: No, I was just 7 once.
Cooper: YOU chased boys???

My youngest is his own man. Some would call him “strong-willed”…his dad and I like to say “he has fire.” From the time he came out of the womb, he has always let you know exactly where he stands…on everything. You never have to guess - you ask him a question, you better be prepared for a straight answer. This can obviously be good and bad. I’m kind of a straight-forward-kind-a-gal myself so that works for me…until it doesn’t. Until it is Halloween and he tells our neighbors as he trick-or-treats at their doors “I don’t like that kind of candy; do you have anything else?.” Just tell them “no thank you”, sweetie. Until I ask him the name of the boy sitting next to him at school and he says “That’s so-and-so. He’s not my friend; he doesn’t make good choices.” We need to show love to everyone, sweetie.

But he really is so full of love! Both of them are. Lately, Little Man has taken to giving random hugs to people he hardly knows. And I just now received my nightly “night-night kisses.” He is so in tune with others emotions; he doesn’t miss much, even if you think he isn’t listening. After we were home from Texas, after Dad’s funeral, Little Man prayed that night at dinner “…and please make a new Papa for Mimi (my dad’s wife).” He was so worried about Mimi being by herself. Just last week he told me, “Mom, I saw a star outside and thought of Papa.” Childlike love - there’s nothing like it. They are so fresh from heaven, so in tune with His love.

And then when you bundle up that little love of yours in all of his snow gear so that he can sled down the icy driveway, you see that subtle balance of a little boy and a big kid. I feel so honored to be a witness of this journey from little boy to big kid and then - oh heaven help me - beyond. Motherhood really is walking around the world wearing your heart outside your body, isn’t it. Oh how I love this boy!