Perspective

Our kids are getting older. Every year they have a birthday, of course. Every couple months they need new pants or shoes because they have grown in inches again. Recently, Brendan turned 11. 11, I can hardly believe it. He is now allowed to stay home alone. He is now able to stay home and watch a sibling or two. I really can't believe he is in grade 6! He is also tall for his age. And because he is the oldest, he seems that much older than the other kids. And he is getting older, in age, in size and in school. The other night, my perspective changed. In our dining room we have a small couch. So while our family was sitting down for dinner, our little Claire decided she was hungry too. So I sat on the couch, in the dining room to feed her. This way I wouldn't miss the family meal. As the kids were eating and talking with Bryan I looked under the table and noticed their feet. My perspective from the couch was different than what I was thinking about how "old" my Brendan is. What I noticed is that his feet didn't reach the floor while he was sitting on his chair. I immediately thought about when I was a kid and could sit on a chair and not touch the floor, I used to love that. (I realize there are some short adults whose feet still can't reach, like my mother in law, but Brendan is by no means short). What I saw was that my "old" son is still a little boy. I called Bryan over to see the perspective I had gained. We both saw it, a new perspective. I know parents need to train their children and have expectations of them, but for me, at that particular dinner hour, I was reminded about how fleeting childhood is. I also realized how I have the tendency to push them beyond childhood maybe to quickly. I was reminded that my big boy is still a boy. I gained a new perspective. He is in a tender stage. The stage between boyhood and manhood. I pray God will give Bryan and I the right perspective.

Quote of the day.

We are studying the solar system in school this year. One of the questions in our book was, "why does God love earth so much?". Keegan immediately responded with, "because His kids live on it". I LOVE that response!!