Lately as I am trying to get Landon down for bed we go through the normal routine of saying prayers after brushing teeth and getting pajamas on but before we read books and lay together. So last night I realized we are going into a routine of sorts.
Landon is so hyper right before bed. I'm not sure if this happens to ALL boys or if it's just a Landon thing, but he seems to go onto a sugar high right when "bedtime" is mentioned. Jumping off things, walking funny up the stairs, on all fours being a dog, and tons of running, squealing, and laughing ensues right before bedtime. I have always had to strap on my "patient" belt and endure it as best I can, as I am WAY overdue for sleep most nights.
But I realized that there's another thing that happens as well....
Landon will be so busy-body when I kneel down to his bed and ask him to kneel too. He jumps, lays or sits on his bed and tells me he's too tired to, while at the same time squirming around everywhere. So instead of arguing (which I found doesn't work well) I started saying the prayer without him kneeling. Most of the time he would fall into place at my side and echo my every 1/2 sentence through the prayer. But there are times when he's still pretty head-strong and doesn't.
I realized that as soon as I ask for his father to be protected and brought home safe, I always feel him fall into place right next to me with arms folded, head bowed, eyes closed and kneeling reverently and thoughtfully. You see, he misses his dad to pieces and if he's not repeating me before this point of the bedtime prayer, he does immediately following that plea.
It's amazing what you can tell about children with their actions.
This last weekend my sister, Leah, had Baby Drake finally! And my mom has been down for the event. Drake was born on Saturday and we were all there in the waiting room. The kids did very well sitting in the little room with TV and toys and treats, but MAN did they need to get out and run around. So April and Leon treated us to Burger King after Drake's arrival and we had documented every moment in pictures or video when we were let into the room after the delivery. The kids ran off to play on the toys right when we stepped into the room and I enjoyed sitting back and supervising while we waited for the food. When the food came we all dug in SUPER hungry after hours of waiting and refereeing kids to not be mean to one another.
While we were digging in my mom ended up spilling ketchup on the front of her white sweater. This made Linzey (my niece) laugh hysterically as she pointed at NaNa's sweater! So before I know it my mom is laughing too... I look over wondering what was going on. She told me that when Landon saw that Linzey was laughing at NaNa for having ketchup on her shirt he took ketchup and was about to put it on his shirt so she didn't feel alone. My heart grew in that instance for the loving act of ketchup smearing.
I had to stop myself later that night and think of what happened that day. I am proud of Landon for caring about others and doing something to help them. I'm also glad I didn't have to get ketchup stains out of his shirt although it would have been worth it!
I am truly blessed with a wonderful, big-hearted little boy who continues to make me realize that giving of yourself gives you more joy than receiving. I hope as he continues to grow up that he will remember these little acts and know that Christmas time is about appreciating what we have been blessed with, that his heart will continue to grow with his body, and that he might know much very much I love and cherish him. I am amazed at some points and wonder if his heart isn't bigger than my own at these points. Landon definitely makes me view the world more closely through his childlike eyes.
I am the one who is blessed. I truly am.
Landon is so hyper right before bed. I'm not sure if this happens to ALL boys or if it's just a Landon thing, but he seems to go onto a sugar high right when "bedtime" is mentioned. Jumping off things, walking funny up the stairs, on all fours being a dog, and tons of running, squealing, and laughing ensues right before bedtime. I have always had to strap on my "patient" belt and endure it as best I can, as I am WAY overdue for sleep most nights.
But I realized that there's another thing that happens as well....
Landon will be so busy-body when I kneel down to his bed and ask him to kneel too. He jumps, lays or sits on his bed and tells me he's too tired to, while at the same time squirming around everywhere. So instead of arguing (which I found doesn't work well) I started saying the prayer without him kneeling. Most of the time he would fall into place at my side and echo my every 1/2 sentence through the prayer. But there are times when he's still pretty head-strong and doesn't.
I realized that as soon as I ask for his father to be protected and brought home safe, I always feel him fall into place right next to me with arms folded, head bowed, eyes closed and kneeling reverently and thoughtfully. You see, he misses his dad to pieces and if he's not repeating me before this point of the bedtime prayer, he does immediately following that plea.
It's amazing what you can tell about children with their actions.
This last weekend my sister, Leah, had Baby Drake finally! And my mom has been down for the event. Drake was born on Saturday and we were all there in the waiting room. The kids did very well sitting in the little room with TV and toys and treats, but MAN did they need to get out and run around. So April and Leon treated us to Burger King after Drake's arrival and we had documented every moment in pictures or video when we were let into the room after the delivery. The kids ran off to play on the toys right when we stepped into the room and I enjoyed sitting back and supervising while we waited for the food. When the food came we all dug in SUPER hungry after hours of waiting and refereeing kids to not be mean to one another.
While we were digging in my mom ended up spilling ketchup on the front of her white sweater. This made Linzey (my niece) laugh hysterically as she pointed at NaNa's sweater! So before I know it my mom is laughing too... I look over wondering what was going on. She told me that when Landon saw that Linzey was laughing at NaNa for having ketchup on her shirt he took ketchup and was about to put it on his shirt so she didn't feel alone. My heart grew in that instance for the loving act of ketchup smearing.
I had to stop myself later that night and think of what happened that day. I am proud of Landon for caring about others and doing something to help them. I'm also glad I didn't have to get ketchup stains out of his shirt although it would have been worth it!
I am truly blessed with a wonderful, big-hearted little boy who continues to make me realize that giving of yourself gives you more joy than receiving. I hope as he continues to grow up that he will remember these little acts and know that Christmas time is about appreciating what we have been blessed with, that his heart will continue to grow with his body, and that he might know much very much I love and cherish him. I am amazed at some points and wonder if his heart isn't bigger than my own at these points. Landon definitely makes me view the world more closely through his childlike eyes.
I am the one who is blessed. I truly am.
No comments:
Post a Comment