Something about today just feels good. For the first time in months, it's warm enough to have breakfast in the backyard. All the springtime flowers are blooming. A pleasant breeze carries the spicy-sweet scents of hyacinth and lilacs. The sun is hot already. My skin drinks it in, and even my bones feel warm. At 9 am, I've already turned on the hose for the boys to play in.
Nothing compares to the bubbling, innocent laughter of my children. In a rare moment of cooperation, they are sharing the hose. James is fiercely possessive, and teaching him to share (especially with his little brother) has been an immense challenge. Just now, though, he's forgotten that everything is HIS. Jacob presses the button on the sprayer of the hose, then gets frustrated that it won't stay on. James, ever so gently, puts a hand on his little brother's shoulder.
"It's ok, Jake. Lemme show you how it works."
James slowly presses the button that holds open the valve deliberately-- slowly so his brother can see. He coos softly to Jacob as he does it, explaining, "There you go. Just like that. Now it'll work, Jake."
"Tankoo!" Jacob replies, a glowing smile returning to his face.
I know this little moment won't last, so I drink it in, letting it fill my heart with joy. I say a little prayer that my boys will always remember to be so kind to each other. I know they will fight and make ME want to scream and cry, but I also know there are more of these tender moments to come. These snapshots of happiness make all the trials of motherhood worth it. They remind me why I chose to be a parent.
My children are happiness, wrapped in skin and bone and clothed in 3T board shorts. I hope I never forget it.
17 comments:
Children are happiness. I watch my little girl, dancing and prancing around everywhere, loving life and I learn from her. She also moves from happiness to tears and to happiness again.
Your little boys sound precious. Thanks for sharing. I am over from Momalom.
I completely agree with you. It is the little moments that make parents happy. In the long run there are more of those little happy moments than the bad ones. It is sad that the bad ones are the ones we talk about the most.
you make me want to move to washington! really, so warm so early? and the lilacs? my favorite. your boys sound delightful and i loved the bit at the end about the bones and the board shorts. ;)
(i dont' know what happened with the deleted post...)
This does sound like a moment of pure happiness.
I must say how jealous I am that you are in nice weather at 9 am. The refusal of the Chicago sun to come out is making me CRAZY!
Thanks for the lovely post.
Rachel @ MWF Seeking BFF
Lovely. I cherish those moments. Letting them exist on their own instead of trying to capture them in a photograph. But I love them. And I loved reading yours.
What a beautiful post. It's in these candid snapshots that real happiness can be found. I really enjoyed this post.
I have 3 children, 2 boys and a little girl, and when they get along it really is a magical moment of happiness.
This is so beautiful. SO beautiful. My children are a warm blanket on a cold day (which I am getting too often in my area these days) that wrap themselves around me until I forget what I was so sad about. Happy.
Watching siblings be so gentle and sweet with each other is an awesome thing. It reminds us what's good and pure in all of us.
You've got it...you soak it up and breathe it and love it all while you can!!!
So beautiful. I closed my eyes and PRETENDED it was warm here too when I read that! And how precious is it when the kids get along so well? I wish I could bottle it up and savor it forever. Loved this. thank you.
Love capturing sweet moments like that, savoring and taking them for all that they are :)
Love your story. Small precious moments when things just click. =)
Thanks for visiting my blog. (There was no return email address, so I'm leaving my reply here.)
I'm glad someone understands! It's a lonely place to be. But it also seems more and more that it's a part of being a mother -- losing yourself in the care of the little ones, and then finding it again. Definitely complicated.
WM
What a touching little moment your boys had there--it made me smile and a little sad both at the same time. Motherhood is bittersweet, but so very worthwhile.
There's this series of images I have. If I could paste them in right here I would. They are of my two younger boys playing with the hose. The sun glinting off them as they soak each other with water and squeals. It is beyond delightful. The moment was. And the memories. And it's one of those times I am so very glad I pulled out my camera, because it is quintessential parental !!!
What a beautifully, sweet and happy moment. This little moments of pure bliss are the reason I became a parent too.
What a sweet morning! I'm happy you got to soak it all in! I hope you have many more.
Stopping over from SITS.
Post a Comment