Mom, don’t forget to sew on my Little League patch, okay?
How could I forget?! This was only the 423rd time my son Micah had reminded me. And it was the 423rd time I’d put it off. Sewing ranks right up there with cleaning the toilet in my book. Betsy Ross I am not.
Me: Yes, I will sew on your patch!!
Micah: But you said you’d do it last night and here it is. (He thrusts it in front of my face).
Me: Well, I’ll do it tonight.
Micah: We’re going to be too busy tonight.
Me: Okay, well your game isn’t until Tuesday. I’ll do it before Tuesday.
Micah (sighs): All I know is that one season you didn’t sew it on until right before my last game and then you sewed it on the wrong sleeve.
Okay, that was three years ago! And he’s still holding that against me? If that’s my worst motherly offense, I must not be doing too horrible of a job, right?
But, later, I thought about it. He remembered it because it was important to him. It might have seemed like a little thing to me, but to him, it meant alot.
Sometimes all the responsibilities of parenting seem so overwhelming. But maybe it’s not always as complicated as we make it. Maybe a big part of being a good parent is just focusing on the things that they value. Because when we do, it makes them feel valued.
I think of how many times God has answered prayers and concerns of mine that I think He must find small and insignificant. And when He does, I’m reminded of how much I mean to Him. He cares because I care.
I want to give my children those same kind of reminders.
Still, I must say it was a little comforting to see more than half of Micah’s teammates with bare sleeves on Little League Opening Day last Saturday. Perhaps I’m not the only mother who doesn’t always keep her eye on the ball.
10 Comments
This is a great reminder. YES. Sometimes the things that are important to your children aren’t the things that you would suspect. It’s easier to have a harmonious and happy house if we pay attention to these little things!
{Melinda} Exactly! I’m often surprised at the things that they really seem to appreciate or be disappointed by. I try to tuck those insights away for future use.
Oh I am SO with you on this one!! I am constantly failing at this and as I sit and write, there are badges that need to be on my daughter’s vest for AHG…and I AM THE UNIT LEADER!!!! They were given to her in DECEMBER. Ugh. I love this message. What is valuable to our kids, needs to be the priority. They remember how we value them, and we need to realize they are worthy of our time. Even when we don’t have it, or think something else is more worthy of our time. We need to tune in to what THEY think is worthy and not what we think is worthy. Sigh…
{Melinda} It’s a constant battle for me, Chris! I always feel like there are 1,000 things vying for my attention. I have to constantly ask God to help me prioritize. Sigh, indeed! 🙂
The ONLY way I overcome this is to do it the first time. I loathe being interrupted with requests like these, but the look on my child’s face when I drop everything for them is just precious.
But honestly, can’t you just use fabric glue to get that patch to stay on?
{Melinda} Fabric glue! Yes, why didn’t I think of that!
I feel the same way. My kids have asked me, “Mom, can we…” or “Mom, can you…” and I find myself thinking/saying, “I have so much to do…Maybe later?” I notice the disappointment, but I neglect to stop and think, “Is what I am doing THAT important?” Sometimes it is, sometimes it’s not. I am working on stopping my busy-ness that doesn’t matter to help them or play with them because that’s what they need. Though I do not think you should indulge every whim (i.e. spoil), I do think I can tend to overlook their needs for mine – and that’s wrong. If I love them, I will do what they need first, what I want second. I am glad to know that I’m not the only “work in progress” in this department! 🙂
{Melinda} I agree, Julie — indulging every whim, not a good idea. And as a recovering people pleaser, I can veer into that territory. I try to think about what it really important to them and then decide is what they’re asking (even if it’s really small) falling into that category? If yes, then I gotta do it — and deny myself. Yes, I am definitely a work-in-progress in this area, too!
I’m SO guilty of making things more complicated than they are sometimes, and I don’t blame you one bit: sewing is no strength of mine, either. That’s why you should take that shirt and a big ol’ smile to the tailor! You’re getting the job done for the kiddo, stimulating the economy, and keeping your sanity in just one move!
{Melinda} Brilliant! Why do we always think if we don’t do it ourselves, it doesn’t “count”?! 🙂