"Buddy, what's wrong? I don't know what else to do for you. Why do you keep crying?"
I often times find myself repeating this phrase. My wife works many late evenings as a ballet instructor, leaving me home to take care of my son. I cherish the time. But I don't have the tenderness to my voice like my wife does. I don't have that soft soothing touch. My hands are dry and my voice is sometimes stern. When our boy cries my wife melts like butter, the kind of butter you could heal the worst of wounds with. She's good like that. When I hear crying, my ears ring, and i feel like I'm 12 years old and my little sister just slugged me in the gut. When I feel this this way, I remember that my son is my teacher. And when I frame the present moment in this regard, I ask my self, "So, if my baby is my teacher, what is he teaching me right now?"
When I ask my self this question I am immediately humbled and open. Not angry, not defensive, not frustrated. I am teachable. Patience is the obvious lesson here. But, it goes deeper. He is teaching me composure, unconditional love, responsibility, charity. Most importantly each and every lesson is a reminder to be open to the next.
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You already made me cry. You are right that our children are our teachers..."and the children shall lead them". I learn something new almost everyday and I know this is a work in progress. It is definitely the greatest, most important work we will ever do. It is also the most challenging and rewarding. Isn't it amazing how much love you have for your kiddos? You truly can't understand the depth of it until you have a child of your own.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I love your header by the way. Did you shave your head again or is that an old picture? :)