Life takes it’s twists and turns, it’s ups and downs. The road, if we are lucky, is long. And even if it is not, it can be glorious.
For children the highs and lows can occur hourly. I am imagining many parents nodding their heads in agreement. The good thing - the lows (tantrums, surly looks and pouting) are usually short-lived. I really have come to believe there is a button somewhere that the child presses to turn it on (to see how we deal with it) and then turn it back off (to make us feel like we really knew how to “handle” the situation).
Ever wonder who’s running things?
Ok there is no button. We “just” need patience and kindness to wait them out. As I have said occasionally here, more often than not, they have the upper hand when it comes to patience at least when it comes to me. They bounce back so quickly. If i could just capture that in a bottle.
Which is why I focus on the times that just make me smile or laugh out loud and wish I could still see through their eyes. The wonder of it all. Now usually this takes place when something new enters into their life’s experience. It could be a sound, a flavor, a smell a feeling from within or a visual that they cannot compare to anything they have experienced in their few years on this planet.
This summer we were at a water park with Superman and Batman (aka Ball Boy) for the first time. Batman, now 3 1/2, is a bundle of enthusiasm. He usually is ready to jump into anything with both feet, eager for a new adventure. We took him into the toddler wading pool which had a small slide in the middle. His first time down the slide he came sloshing over and said with this giddy look on his face - “That was amaaaazing!” Back up he went. Superman, being the older brother, wanted to go on the “super” water slides, of course. After climbing all the way to the top of the tower I was prepared to ride down with him but the operator said he had to go by himself. Off he went without hesitation, winding his way down several turns to the bottom and then dumped in 4 feet of water. His response after emerging, with a huge grin - “That was fun!”. 15 times later he had finally had enough. They couldn’t wait to go back.
Recently, the boys took their first airplane ride. How would 5 1/2 and 3 1/2 year old boys handle all the waiting - cab ride to the airport, checking baggage, going through security, waiting at the gate, waiting on the tarmac while they found a replacement part (yikes) and 4 hours in seat belts and no wifi?! Well as it turned out, they did very well… on both ends of the trip. And memorable (for good reasons) for the other adults around them. Batman was particularly vocal about his experience. As we waited to take off on the first leg he just had to yell out so that all could hear - “When are we going to blast off?” A future astronaut? And on the return trip, after the plane slammed on the breaks during the landing, he giggled with glee - “Can we do that again?” Gave us all a chuckle.
It gives us all a glimpse again of the pure joy through a child’s eyes of just how magical this life can be. I’ll have another half full glass of what they are drinking, please.
