As a mom of two boys and one on the way, sometimes it is hard to find the precious moments in the day. My oldest son is almost 14 and as with many typical teenage boys finding the moments to enjoy are few and far between. I am constantly asking him to put something away, turn off the lights, get off the video games, asking why the refrigerator door is open, asking how long it has been since he has taken a shower, making him brush his teeth, dragging him out of bed at the early hour of 11:00, making him go to bed at midnight, telling him to change the channel (this one really makes him crazy because in his mind he is old enough to watch anything on TV) or telling him “No” one more time to getting an iPhone. I sometimes feel like I am searching for something to say to him that is a positive interaction or that might get a response of more than yes or no. My youngest (although soon to be middle son) is 3 ½ and in some ways very much like his older brother. In his search for independence he is constantly climbing up a chair, trying to “do it myself”, chasing the dog, pulling the cat’s tail, needing to try something that mom has previously denied him (gum, candy, soda), or just working his best at defiance, including “powering” back at mom which is his take from Power Rangers and how he can overcome the evil powers of mommy no’s.
However, there are precious moments to be found among all this insanity. Some are easy to spot, some take a moment to notice, but I do my best to see them all. Recently with a brief break in the triple digit heat, the three of us went outside to enjoy the fact that we could breathe out doors. My 3 year old, Kyler, came over to my belly and said, “come out baby come out”. It was almost as if to say, “see, the world will be normal again so you should join us”. This was an easy-to-see, precious moment that touched my heart. Watching my oldest son, Ethan, play with my younger son is a super special moment for me. Although the older they get the more they antagonize each other, I still get to see the them bonding. I wasn’t sure what it would be like for their relationship being almost 11 years apart. However, I have said many times that watching Ethan be such a wonderful big brother is what has been his saving grace during the “troubled teen years”. I can only hope and pray some of that rubs off on Kyler as he becomes a big brother, but a 3 Ò½ year difference instead of an 11 year difference is a completely different scenario.
I digress, back to the precious moments. I realized recently that sitting down to have a bowl a cereal together (something that only happens in the summer for us) can truly be a precious moment. Listening to the antics of Kyler’s imagination and joining in silly conversation is a precious moment we get to share. Watching Ethan help his little brother get a glass of milk because he is willing not because he was asked is a precious moment. Sometimes even watching some of the horrible cartoons that are on now can be a precious moment. It is not one we share often, especially once the school year is in full swing again but for now I will cherish these moments I get with my boys. I look forward to living through even more with my 3rd son.
Sometimes I even have to look back and see that we had a precious moment together. At the time maybe I was busy trying to get dinner ready and not really wanting an extra distraction, but Kyler really wanted to be up at the counter with me to “help” stir, wash a dish, or anything. He still wants to be with mommy and I know those times will start to slip away as well. As my family is growing and every min becomes filled with need-to, and have-to, I am learning to enjoy these precious moments because they will be gone before I know it. I am blessed to have My 3 sons.