The Things I Learn From My Children

So, a few months ago, the card reader thingy that I have to use to get the picture off my camera was broken in two by a couple of little, chubby, baby boy hands. So I found a cord to transfer the pictures. It's gone. I really don't understand! Where did it go? I think someone sneaks into my house once or twice a month and takes some random thing out of its permanent place just to drive me crazy.

Anyway, this is a long, pictureless, just-for-family-history-purposes kind of post, so ignore it if you don't feel like reading about how incredible my children are.

LJ is at THE HARDEST church age. He can walk, so he doesn't want to sit on my lap or anywhere in the chapel. He can run, so he doesn't want to play quietly in the hall. Yesterday, I was wrestling with him in the hall and trying desperately to listen to the Testimony meeting. He either wanted to run back into the chapel or close the chapel doors. I was becoming so frenzied and distracted and didn't notice the older gentleman, Brother Green, from our ward had sat down in the chair across from the couch we were trying to sit on. He's sort of an unapproachable, gruff old guy. He shuffles when we walks, has a permanent frown and doesn't talk to people very often. LJ noticed him. He toddled up to Brother Green and held his arms out to be picked up. Brother Green looked at him and frowned and then looked away, trying to ignore him. LJ stood in front of him and babbled something in his cute little baby voice. Brother Green didn't look at him. LJ turned around and backed himself up to stand in between Brother Green's feet and put his hands up on his knees. He smiled a little at the back of LJ's head. LJ turned around and said something else to him. He smiled again and this time, when LJ held his arms out, Brother Green picked him up and put him on his lap. LJ snuggled against him, played with his tie, touched his face, then quickly wiggled away. After church, I saw him in the hall and he asked, "What's his name?" I said, "Lucas." He said, "I haven't held a small child in over a decade." Then he touched LJ's hair and tearfully said, "Thank you," then quickly shuffled away. I sometimes think that babies are more in tune with the spirit because they don't have so many distractions. LJ is a pretty friendly boy, but what made him persist until Brother Green picked him up? Yesterday, LJ's compassion reminded me of the lessons I've learned all my life, but sometimes get too distracted to act on.

Gweny is becoming such a caring little spirit. She has really good manners and I don't ever have to remind her to use them. She wanted to start her own bath the other day and got frustrated because the water was too cold. I asked her why she didn't try to make it warmer and she said, "Mommy, I'm just a little tiny girl. I don't know everything." It made me laugh.

The number one rule in our house right now is to keep the baby gate at the top of the stairs closed at all times because LJ is fascinated with the stairs. Both girls are so, so diligent in following this rule. The kids I babysit sometimes are not. One day, I heard Gweny and LJ both crying and screaming. I ran to find that LJ was desperately trying to make his way toward the wide-open staircase. Gweny was grabbing at anything she could, his hands, his feet, even his hair, to keep him from getting at the stairs. He outweighs her, so this must have been a struggle for her. She finally tackled him and wrapped her arms tightly around his tummy. She was crying and was so upset and was holding on to him and yelling "Close the gate! Close the gate!" Later, when it was over, and she had calmed down and LJ had not fallen down the stairs, she said, "Hey, I'm a hero!" It's true. She was a hero. She could have ignored him to go play with her sister and friends, but instead, she engaged in the wrestle of her life in order to save her baby brother from falling down the stairs.

Mikayla is also a very compassionate little girl. Josh went out of town for a few days and she said, "Mommy, I know its hard for you when daddy's not here, so I'm going to be really good, " and of course, she was very good. I even found her doing the dishes without being asked. When I tell her to keep an eye on LJ, she actually does it. She usually does not need to be asked to do things twice. She does it the first time.

At church a few weeks ago, her teacher found me after Primary and told me that Mikayla was the only child in her class that day. She asked Mikayla several times if she wanted to go to another class with her friends, but Mikayla wanted to stay with her own teacher. Later, I asked her why she didn't want to go to another class and Mikayla said, "I thought it might hurt her feelings if I left for my friends. I just wanted to stay with my teacher so that she knows I love her." She's thoughtful and caring that way. She smiles easily, shares hugs and kisses and plenty of "I love you's" with those around her. She is truly a caring person.

I learn so much from watching my children. They teach me new things everyday. I love you, little ones.