Mothering

1 yr. old is walking more than 3 or 4 steps. He is walking across rooms now. He walks all the time now as a matter of fact. And I love him so much. Doesn't that sound way too mushy? He wanted to walk with me hand in hand across the room today and as I did, I thought, "This is mothering and I love it."

Mothering has been one thing in my life that God has given me great satisfaction over. There is nothing quite like the kisses you get from a baby who cares not whether you washed your hair today or not. The 1yr. old is not yet completely weaned. I guess I just don't want to stop nursing him until he can get at least 1 cup of milk drank from a sippy cup. He's not done that yet, so for now we are down to nursing 3 times a day. They have been precious times with him and they will soon end. The sad thing is that I will slowly forget these special times. I know I will. I have with the others. I don't mean that I will forget tickling his neck or playing bouncy on my knee with him, or grabbing his toes and making him laugh. I've done that with all of them. What I mean is that the moments will slowly drift away and I won't be able to recall the details. His baby face. His affection toward me. I have five kids now and the memories get a little mixed up sometimes. "This is mothering and I love it."

I'm not naive to think these little children that run me tired won't disappoint me. They will , they do, and they have. But the satisfaction of hearing, seeing, touching the fruit of my labor is so worth it. How could their smiles wrap my heart like the floss they took and wrapped their Rescue Hero with? How can their tears provoke such a feeling for their well-being, not known to those without a child? Mothering brings the best and worst to light before our merciful Saviour. It shows us how selfish we can be. It causes us to evaluate what's important and to grow up and stop being sissies. "This is mothering and I love it."

I could go on and on, but it's getting late and I have to get up early to listen to the 7yr. old do his reading lesson....bake some bread......clean a bathroom....fold some laundry.....Windex some windows.....and do some more mothering. I wouldn't trade it for all the tea in china. (Tea has been on our mind since we've been learning about the Boston Tea Party.)

I love being their Mommy.