Wednesday, June 24, 2009

it is an ordinary moment

I was reading a "suspense thriller"* a while back and the main character was talking about watching his young daughter telling a story.
He says, "I got hit with that overwhelming feeling. It sneaked up on me. Parents get it from time to time. You are looking at your child and it is an ordinary moment, not like they are onstage or hitting a winning shot, just sitting there, and you look at them and you know that they are your whole life and that moves you and scares you and makes you want to stop time."

I sat and read that paragraph 3 or 4 times. "Exactly!" That's exactly how I feel so many times. We are going about our every day lives, and one or both of my boys will do the most ordinary thing and it just stops me. I think it is the cutest, funniest, smartest or most adorable thing he could be doing at the time, but really, its nothing special. But it makes me fall in love even more and makes me want to stay in the moment and never let them grow into bigger boys and never ever into (gasp!) men!

The ordinary moments that make me want to stop time are when...

Reagan does his fake snore when he should be sleeping and knows I'm coming to check on him.
Kiefer makes his piggy sound and uses his whole face.
Both boys come to me to kiss boo-boos, and it really does make them feel better.
Reagan takes his shoes off and shoves a sock in each one and lines them up on the floor.
Kiefer gives me a hug and wraps his legs around me and hangs like a monkey.
Both boys say "thank you, Mommy" without my prompting.
Kiefer says "Hold me, mommy" when I put him to bed.
Reagan holds his last bite of lunch in his mouth until his head hits the pillow for naptime.
Kiefer sleeps with his hands behind his head.
Reagan looks at me with this look like I am the greatest person he knows and like he will love me forever.

These ordinary things remind me that the boys are my life and it moves me and scares me and makes me want to stop time.





*Harlan Coben's The Woods

1 comment:

Mom/Grandma said...

I wish you were printing all of this that you post, so down the road you can compile these in a book. I love you so very much for loving your life and your family.