Ever wish life had a reset button? A do-over option?
Right now, I wish mine did.
Go back to 6:50 p.m. Dinner was late and I was trying to get the last load of laundry folded before calling the kids in for supper.
Thomas came in, twinkling as always.
"Mommy! Where are the wrenches?"
"What on earth do you need wrenches for?"
"I want to take the training wheels off my bike!"
"Oh, honey, not right now."
"But why???"
"I need to get this laundry folded, and then we're going to sit down for supper."
"We can just take the training wheels off, and then you can get supper on the table."
"No, because you're going to need me to run with you, and right now I'm not going outside. I've got other things I need to finish."
I finished the laundry, and got supper on the table. My husband came home and took the training wheels off while I was reading a book to the older kids.
A few minutes later, a very excited Thomas came in.
"You guys! Stop reading! You have to come out and see this!!!"
Thomas can ride a two-wheeler now.
His 7-yr old brother took the time to give him the push he needed.
While I am so proud of Christopher for jumping in and being the incredible big brother he always is, a big part of me is so sad that I missed that golden opportunity to share that once-in-a-lifetime moment with my son.
That moment is gone.
I wish I had the chance to do that over.
6 comments:
If all goes the way it usually does, Thomas will have his brother for longer than he will have you. Think of it as a gift you gave the two of them, something they'll always share. What a wonderful sibling moment -- I doubt either of them will ever forget it! (But I understand why you are wistful.)
Great post, and boy can I relate. If often wish I could have my own "Groundhog Day" like Bill Murray's character in the movie. I want to repeat everything until I get it right.
Fortunately, God has an unlimited supply of mercy and forgiveness, and I've found my children are thankfully very forgiving as well!
God bless.
Yes, I agree with KH. It was a gift to both boys - the teacher and the student.
Oh Ouiz, I'm sorry you did miss it, but you certainly didn't miss his JOY!! Such a beautiful family you have, many blessings!!
I'm thrilled that Christopher gets that "moment" in the family memory, much like I did when one of my brothers took his first step to me.
It just saddens me that I was handed that moment on a silver platter, and I turned it down for folded laundry.
How many such moments do I miss? I can't kick myself over it, because as Moms we ARE responsible for such things as laundry and cooking and such, but still...
Many times at the end of a day I find myself asking God to open my eyes to those moments where I could have just slowed down a few more seconds and not worried so much about what I "needed" to get done. I know exactly how you feel. Too often I say "not right now" or "in a minute" and worry about getting things around the house done, it helps when I remind myself that I will never look back and long over not having folded more laundry or done more dishes but I will look back and long over spending more time reading to my kids or playing with them. My house may not always be pristine but if it were always spotless my children would be the neglected parties, better my housework wait a minute than the kids. It's always hard to juggle it all, but rejoice in the fact that tomorrow there will be another opportunity to share in another learning moment with your children.
Post a Comment