Being Present

I picked up the boys at school on Tuesday and as Noah got in the van, I noticed a furrowed brow and look of frustration on his face. I thought he was getting ready to get mad because Blake was in the seat he wanted. (This is a regular occurrence in our family.)

He got in his seat and buckled his seat belt. Then he said, "Mommy, I either want to be an astronaut or a boxer - I just can't decide!"

If you know Noah, you can see and hear the drama and emphasis he would place on these words. I started to laugh, but realized by the look on his face that he was serious. This was a big deal!

So I asked him why he wanted to be those things and let him talk.

Is that not how all of us are at times? Sometimes I make a statement to Greg and I don't know that I need a response from him as much as I just need to talk it through. Noah didn't need me to tell him he has a long time to worry about this or that I would prefer him NOT to be a boxer :)

He just needed to get that off his little chest because it seemed important to him.

Sometimes, our kids just need us to listen to them.

They just need us to care about what they are saying. They need us to turn off the radio, not talk on the cell phone, step away from the computer, stop fixing dinner and simply be 100% present and listen to the things that are so desperately important to them. That is how they know we love them and that we care. We stop what we are doing to really be in the moment with them.

Oh - if that were as easy as it sounds. I know I struggle with this all of the time. But I know that every time I actually do this and stop everything else, it is ALWAYS worth it. The tasks and chores are always still there.

Who knows - maybe Noah will end up being an astronaut (or a boxer!). I don't know. But I do know that he will remember that Mom cared enough to listen and that will have an impact on him for life!