How do you wait for heaven
And who has that much time
How do you keep your feet on the ground
When you know, that you were born to fly
Sara Evans
Every time I turn around my son is climbing something and jumping off. Be it a kitchen stool, a dining room chair, my end tables, the pool deck, the boat ... you name it, he has become a master climber with no fear regardless of how many times his poor skull has collided with my less than soft tile floor. Of course in true mom fashion, I scold him, kiss his boo boos when he cries, and recently I removed my end tables from beside the couch entirely when he bounced too high and flipped over the couch giving me a mini heart attack. Regardless of how many times I tell him he can't jump or climb, he is still 2 and 100% boy and he waits for the perfect moment I am not watching him!
While I constantly wonder what he may get into next, I love this stage with my son. He is always looking for adventure with a mischievous smile. And when I think of him, I truly do believe my precious son is a special boy who was born to fly! He definitely was not born to sit still. I read a quote the other day that I think all parents should sit and ponder. Life is busy and chaotic, and in today's fast moving society our patience runs thin or we snap when we could step back and react differently. I am guilty at times of this. But in reading this I thought it makes perfect sense.
I am a toddler.
I am not built to sit still,
keep my hands to myself,
take turns, be patient,
stand in line or keep quiet.
I need motion, novelty,
adventure and to engage the world
with my whole body.
Let me play.
Trust me, I am learning.
I often watch my son from the kitchen about to do something crazy or that he shouldn't, and let him anyways because the look on his face is so determined. I can appreciate his effort towards the new things and ideas he is exploring. While I am not promoting bad behavior, and yes do believe toddlers need boundaries, I can also appreciate the concept of such a quote that we are a society that is too uptight and focused on perfection. I am currently potty training which is an adventure in itself. As well as trying to teach Lincoln how to sit in a restaurant through an entire meal. The last dinner ended with me walking him out while he screamed for his dad while he paid the bill. At first I was embarrassed, but it didn't last long, because anyone who has raised a toddler knows that's part of life. At the same time, I am playing in more mud puddles, covering myself in chalk and seeing who can spit water further, while my Lincoln giggles himself to pieces. I must admit, I love those moments far more than trying to get him to sit on the couch or hold still while I fold my laundry and he unfolds it at the same pace.
Many of you know we consider ourselves very blessed to have our Lincoln. Complications could have handed us a completely different life. Therapy each week reminds us of that. I have had the pleasure of getting to know multiple moms and dads as we wait for our children, and while each child is there for different reasons such as autism, brain injuries, speech delays, cancer recovery, muscular dystrophy ... the one thing we all seem to have in common is we wouldn't trade our children for anything, but we would move mountains to give them normalcy or a different life. So while I am enjoying my peace and quite while Lincoln naps today ... I hope when he wakes, he wakes with a glimmer in his eyes and is ready for adventure, after all isn't that what being two years old should be about?!?
Give your children the confidence to leap ~ only then will they realize because you believed in them, they really can fly!
