Sometimes my kids say things.
Sometimes they sing things, sometimes they rap things, sometimes they yodel.
Last night I was reading Todd Parr’s “The Thankful Book” to my five year old. His books always make us smile especially the part where he is thankful for underwear because he likes to wear it on his head.
Books like his always leave me in a “sippy-cup half full” kind of mood before saying goodnight to the kids.
I think about things like “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” and I’m inspired by Facebook posts that include cuddly kittens entwined in a mix of yarn and motivational phrases that any other time of day I might see only scratched furniture and a giant lint brush.
Then one of the kids not only calls after us, “I love you Mommy. I love you Daddy” and my heart grows a couple of sizes but they include their siblings, “I love you sisters” and all is right with the world.
It’s on these nights I can’t resist sneaking back down the hall for one last hug when the girls are half asleep and only half-muttering about why I made them eat a heaping portion of broccoli for dinner when there was already an abundance of vegetables in the chili. I explain that they would have more energy to argue with me about it if they had finished every last floret.
My oldest whispers, “You’re a great Mom you know? I’m sorry I said I didn’t want you to come on my field trip. I mean, I still don’t want you to but thanks for not making a big deal about it.”
My heart is melting.
My middle daughter says, “Mom, remember to wake me up first for the shower because I have some reading, a Rainbow Loom pencil grip charm to finish and a math page to do and if I eat my cereal first and brush my hair before 7am and can you fill my water…..”
Okay so the moment appears to be shifting.
And then there’s Chloe, the five year old who grounds us. Her words often leave me with something to think about, something bigger than all of us.
Last night she called me into her lair and asked me to lean in closely.
She put her hands on my head and said something I’d never heard before.
“Mom, the pigeons will die if you chase them.”
