Moments that take your breath away

Wow, I guess it's been a while since I posted on this thing. Maybe it's time to make an entry!

Do your kids ever argue? It seems like all the people at my church have kids that have never argued. I used to think (before I was a mom) that MY children would never fight because I wouldn't LET them. I used to think that we would all keep our cool and be kind and gentle with each other. Then I had kids. Admittedly, the kids get along most of the time. Maybe even 90% of the time. But that 10% really gets to me!!! I have had a desire to increase peace and love in our home. Has it worked? It hasn't felt like it. It seems like I'm always herding cats when it comes to curbing contention. You just get one situation resolved and the next cat fight breaks out! Yet there are moments when I realize just how much my kids DO love each other. This last week, I've had a couple of those moments that reminded me that these children will eventually turn into human beings at some point; a few moments that took my breath away.

The first one was a few weeks ago. My son Joe is rather unique. He long ago gave up trying to fit in and has become really comfortable in his own skin. (We've lately been having some discussions about trying to fit in just a little more, since he's maturing and eventually has to fit in to a certain extent!) He's funny, energetic, focused on the typical super-smart, pre-teen things (boogers, things that make girls gag, things that blow up, the latest science fiction story), and as likely to break into poetry or song as the actors in a musical. He and his sisters ride the bus together, and his older sister Kelly is generally unhappy with Joe's rather unusual behavior. The other day, I dropped just Kelly and Joe off at the bus stop and took Laine with me to her school. As we were pulling away, Joe was dancing and singing (likely some really gross song, or the Smekday Calendar song, or something like that) in front of a horrified looking Kelly. All of a sudden, Laine laughs in a really tender way and says, "I really like Joe! He's so sweet and funny, and I like how he doesn't care what other people think. He's always himself. I wish I was more like him." This from my little socialite who is everyone's best friend. It really warmed my heart!

The next thing happened a few days ago. First, you have to know that Kelly and Johnny don't exactly get along. They have very similar personalities, and the less time Kelly and Johnny spend together, the more peaceful it is at home. Some days, I am convinced that they dislike each other so much, that it almost could be called hate. So imagine my surprise and joy when the following happened: I dropped Johnny off at school, and he was walking toward the sidewalk that takes him up to his school. He has to cross the exit that all the cars come out of before he gets to that sidewalk. I have taught him to put his hand up as he crosses, to make himself more visible as he does so. On this particular day, I was distracted with other kids in the car as he was making his way, and I happened to look up to see Kelly frantically rolling down her window and sticking her head and shoulders out, yelling at her brother to put his hand up as he crossed the driveway. Apparently he had forgotten. I was almost speechless. I watched as she smiled with relief as he put his hand up and marched across the driveway, and listened, amazed, as she said, "He almost forgot! He's so cute. I don't want him to die." Love, Kelly style. It takes my breath away. :-)

Then this morning! I dropped off the kids as usual in front of the school. Apparently Laine and Joe sit next to each other on the bus pretty often. When the kids got out of the car, Joe was a little ahead of Laine, and he turned around to wait for her. As she approached, he reached out his hand, and I watched with tears in my eyes as the two kids walked hand in hand to catch the bus. How sweet!!!!

Ahhh! These are the moments that remind me how much I love being a mom. There's hope for us yet, don't you think?