So this morning we did some chase around town, and I observed a little scene at the library. We were doing our business, picking out books, when a persistent little voice caught my attention.
“Buu-er-fy, Mommy, buu-er-fy, Mommy, buu-er-fy, Mommy, buu-er-fy, Mommy….”
Over and over and over he said it. This adorable little tyke was pointing to a spring decoration, a big cloth butterfly hanging from the ceiling of the library. His plea for attention went on for a long time, long enough that I started looking around for this absent Mommy. Who was with this little guy who could barely talk yet? Who was he talking to? Was he here alone?
Oh.
No, he wasn’t. Mama was across the room, gone into the land of her iPhone. Checked out.
Hey Mom – can I just give you a quick reminder?
A reminder of what’s most important?
It’s not facebook or twitter, it’s not your email, it’s not US News And World Report or The Blaze, it’s not this blog, it’s not any blog. It’s not your virtual Bible study, and it’s not even the medical research you need to do for your child’s ear infection or heart condition.
What’s most important is that little person who needs your attention, your ear, your interest, your smile, right now, just as much as he needs the very air he breathes. If you want him to talk to you when he’s twelve and sixteen and twenty-two, you’ve got to listen to him right now when he’s two. And three. And five. And nine. And always.
Right now.
Just sayin’.
Ruth,
ReplyDeleteI think I am going to start a blog and link it to trkaiserfamily.blogspot every day:-) I could NOT have said it any better. I am so very thankful that 20 years ago we started talking to our children(giving them our attention, our ear, our smile)...every day, at all times of the day, about everything they wanted to talk about, about every little detail........ As a result, to this day, they all talk and talk (and talk!) to us, and ask questions, and ponder situations and totally open up about every issues, from "not so important" to "extremely important".
John and I will easily be up till midnight tonight....talking. We were last night and the night before and the night before that, because we have children who need us right now.....We will catch up on that sleep later, like 40 years later, because they are more important......just saying :-)
Keep On Keeping On Kaiser Family!
Misty for the John Sauder Family
ps. If parents do not give attention to their children, they will seek it from someone else, something else, or some place else..........There are many verses in Proverbs that speak to this better than I ever can. Once again, just saying. Keep writing Ruth!