Yesterday, the kids needed to be reminded one too many times to not do something that they already knew was off limits. Thus, I had to initiate 'the discipline'. That's always the hardest part. We don't believe in the 'one discipline fits all situations' method. The consequence has to fit the offense and it has to be uncomfortable enough that it reminds the kids that it's a better idea to listen to and obey their parents.
After much deliberation, I decided that sending them to bed an hour early would adequately get the message across. As I was tucking Bennett in, we were discussing why he needed to go to bed this early. He told me, "Mom, I think the problem is that I was thinking too fast. I didn't mean to that." I wasn't the least bit upset with him. But I was astounded with his deduction.
I then went to tuck in Gavin. He told me, "Mom, Bennett was right." He went on to explain that he had been listening outside the door as I was talking with Bennett. He said, "Mom, I think we were thinking too fast - cuz if I had been thinking slower, I would have taken the time to think about the consequences of my actions on others."
The discipline was already working - or, rather, God was already working on their little, sensitive hearts and teaching them the lesson in a way they could understand. Not only did he teach them, he taught me through them.
Next time I want to react to a situation or a person, I need to remember to 'not think too fast' and slow down and consider the consequences of my actions. Thank you boys, for teaching me, yet again, how to listen and learn in every situation.
I never cease to be amazed by the shear amount of questions my children can generate. And that's just during lunchtime. I see either one of two things happening in the near future: 1) I need to eat lunch with a dictionary in one hand and a complete, unabridged encyclopedia in the other, or 2) I need to not eat lunch at the same time as my children.
Since I'm typically the only adult in the room with them, they naturally think I have all the answers to the millions of questions that seize their tiny brains at any given moment. I tend to be either overwhelmed by the magnitude of the question, stunned by the depth of the question, or trying to suppress a grin because of the innocence of the question. And to think my sweet proteges are adding to their brain cells based solely on the information I provide while eating our peanut butter sandwiches...it's enough to make me want to go back for my master's degree...okay, not that bad - but it does bring me to my knees and remind me that I MUST rely on God for all my answers. I'm shaping the way they see their world. What an awesome responsibility!
All that to say...here are the latest, greatest questions I have received (or at least the ones I can remember)...
Bennett asks very nonchalantly, "Mom, do all kids grow up to be Mommy's and Daddy's?" Whew - easy answer. "Most of them do, Honey." But that didn't seem to satisfy his curiosity, so he tried to rephrase his question, "No, Mom, I mean, do some kids die before they can grow up to be a Mommy or Daddy?" Okay, that's a whole other ballgame. Does he really need to know the harsh reality of this world? Sensing that he wants to dig deep and know the honest truth, I tell him, "Well, unfortunately, some kids go to heaven before they get the chance to grow up....But you won't be sad cuz you'd be in heaven with Jesus; only the people left would be sad cuz we wouldn't get to see you till it was our turn to get to heaven. But you don't have to worry about that right now Honey, okay?" He seemed satisfied with my answer and assured me that nobody would have to worry about him. He said, "...okay, good, cuz when I get to heaven, I going to go ask God, 'God, can you make me a superhero now so I can go back and help people and they won't be sad?' and then nobody will be sad, Mom." Hmmm...I'm still shocked that I never saw the whole 'superhero angle' coming.
Next it's Gavin's turn to stump me. Out of nowhere he asks, "Mom, when all the people are gone off the earth, will it be extinct?" What???? I don't know that I can wrap my brain around that question. So like any good philosopher, I ask him a question in return. "Honey, where will all the people go?" As if I hadn't seen the obvious, he patiently replied, "Mom, they'll all be in heaven." Ohhh - I see. All I can manage to say upon opening my mouth is, "Honey, did you read that in Narnia?" "Ya, it said......" Thank God!!! He saved me yet again. This line of questioning had indeed stemmed from reading the Narnia series. Thankfully, I could use my ignorance to my advantage here since I have no recollection of the story.
And lastly, after watching a movie that featured a two-headed dragon, Bennett wanted to know, "Mom, if dragons have fire in them, why don't they burn up?" Thankfully, that just involved a little bit of chemistry and I was able to adeptly explain that the fire wasn't actually fire until it came out of their mouth's, it was just a gas inside them.
My job is done for the day. I have fielded every question that has come my way (even the one about how to make lemonade that I thought should have been a simple answer) and have lived to tell about it....simple questions - in our house, that is an oxymoron.
You guessed it - this is not the "Mommy" who usually runs this blog. The "Daddy" has been asked to write a brief synopsis of two recent conversations with our sons superheroes.
The other day Superhero #2 asked me why I had to go to work. I advised him that all daddies have to go to work to get money so they can buy things for the family like a house and food and stuff. I also told him that one day, when he grew up, he too would have a job and would have go to work and be away from his family.
He was quick to correct me. He said, "No, Dad. When I grow up, I'm going to be a Superhero. I'm not sure what type of costume God is going to give me yet, but I hope its cool." Apparently he thinks God anoints superheroes.
This next story pertains to Superhero #1. A couple of months ago, I went to a neighborhood Homeowner's Association meeting and had my little helper with me. One part of the meeting was a talk given by a police officer regarding starting a local neighborhood crime watch program. About half way through the officer's talk, Gavin whispered to me: "Daddy, if they wanted to talk about crime prevention, why didn't they ask me? I could have talked about fighting crime." I said, "Well, that's because you don't know anything about crime prevention, right?" He looked at me in shock. With disgust in his voice and wee bit too much volume, he said "Uh, Dad. Yes I DO! I'm a superhero!"
I'm not looking forward to the day when they realize that they will not actually become superheroes when they grow up. But for now, I love their hearts.
Romeo, O Romeo, wherefore art thou?
I found him...he is Bennett. And he is only four years old.
That sweet boy has stars in his eyes everytime he sees a girl. She could be older or younger, it doesn't matter. What matters is that she is a girl. He gets the most adorable grin on his face. He just can't wipe it off. He will just sit and stare at a girl he thinks is cute.
Now, he has already given his heart to one girl. He fully intends on marrying her in the near future. But...that hasn't kept his eye from wandering.
The other day we were at the pool. When all of the sudden such good fortune fell upon him. Five little girls come giggling in his direction. What luck! Then all of the sudden the all jump into the pool screaming and laughing.
One little girl catches his eye. She is the youngest of the group, probably 4 or 5, and is wearing a purple bathing suit. I think it was love at first sight. Afterall, purple is his favorite color. He just got some new, purple swim goggles that he instantly fastends on and darts over a little closer to his new love. He then proceeds to stand there and stare at the group of girls for probably 10 minutes. I guess he was formulating his plan of action...how best to infiltrate the group.
He has decided that the best course to take would be the 'look like a fool and make them laugh' strategy. So my sweet little flirt begins his routine. He stands in the middle of the group and hits his head with his hand while simultaneously contorting his face into what he believes to be the most hysterical look he can find. The last bit of his act entails him slithering down under the water all the while, hoping the girls are laughing at the entertainment he has just provided.
At least I was laughing...so hard, I had tears running down my cheeks. He was trying so hard to impress these little girls. I thought it was so funny.
Meanwhile, Gavin has no clue that anyone else other than himself and his imagination are in the pool with him. He is spinning webs, flying through the air and snorkling the depths of the ocean. His imagination is vast, enjoys solitude and sees no need for girls.
But Bennett...he LOVES girls. When I was tucking him in that night, we were talking about our day and I mentioned to him, "You like girls alot, don't you Sweetie." To which he gets stars in his eyes and a look of pure joy came across his face. He smiled real big and said, "Yes! I like girls." But then a moment of contemplation came over him and he continued, "I REALLY like girls, but I don't always like their Mommy's and Daddy's. Especially the one's with crinkily hair. But I like Grandma."
