Mother's Day reflections, and revelations

Mother’s Day….this week was very reflective for me, and full of some small revelations.

This year I noticed that the media likes to depict mothers as super heroes with special strength. Guess what? I do not have super powers. I do possess special strength, but it mostly evolves around my ability to multi task, answer a million questions a day, and watch the same movie over and over without going brain dead.

This week I realized that I’m a very different mother now than when I became a mother 10 years ago. Therefore, I am much more relaxed with my youngest child than I was with my oldest at the same age.

This week I realized that Alivia is standing on the threshold of adolescence. My “tom boy” is evolving. Friday night we were rushing out the door, and because it was getting a bit cooler I grabbed a long sleeve shirt and told her to change. She didn’t like my choice. I asserted my authority, and said she HAD to put it on. This started an argument, and suddenly she burst into tears. What? Since when did she care what she wore? Since when did the color or style matter? And since when does she cry? She’s never been a crier.
We resolved it, but after it was over, and I had time to replay it in my mind I realized what it means….she and I are on the brink of a new phase in our relationship. I have to tread lightly to be sure I don’t overpower her, but yet steer her in the right direction.
Good grief. Am I ready for this????????? God give me strength. Super hero strength.

This week I realized what a sweet heart my Tanner boy is. Actually, I have always known this, but all the sudden he is so grown up. This week I caught a glimpse of the wonderful young man is soon to become. Our church is remodeling our fellowship hall, and my 8 year old son accompanied my husband on a “work day”. Apparently, Tanner worked so hard, and helped so much that our pastor felt the need to thank him from the pulpit.
Tanner, in his typical way, was shy, and simply smiled. Scott and I were literally busting!

This week I realized my baby is growing up. It was a really small thing, but it meant so much.
We went to Wal-mart, just Riley and I. I pushed the cart to the car with him securely holding on while we navigated the parking lot. After he helped me put everything in the car I told him to hop in while I put the cart in the corral. Immediately he grabbed the cart, and said he wanted to do that. I looked around, and since the parking lot was pretty quiet I said ok. I stood there and watched my 6 year old, my baby, pushing a cart, and all the sudden I realized that he was a big kid now. Not a baby.
I don’t know why something so silly struck me this way, but it did. Ugh. When our kids are little we can’t wait for them to be potty trained, and a little more independent. Then it happens –overnight- and your standing in a Wal-mart parking lot watching them put away a cart, and the pit in your stomach is so big all you can say is ….. Ugh.

So that was my mother’s day. Full of reflection and some small revelations.