Living in the Moment
This month my son will turn 4 years old. I can't believe how quickly the time has flown by. I am grateful that I decided 2 years ago to take a break from teaching and to spend more time with him.
Not only does my son turn 4, but so does his best friend. Four years ago, my best friend and I were pregnant with our first babies who were born 3 weeks apart. Now our little ones are turning 4 and they have so much to share with us. I am constantly amazed by how intuitive and observant my son is...especially since he is a ball of crazy energy most of the time! How does he have time to be observant when he is running around so much? But he is.
Lately my son has been saying, "I don't want to be 4! Can you make me not turn 4?" What, you don't want to turn 4? What are you talking about? Well come to find out, I have been saying things like:
"You don't need my help putting on your shoes, you know how to do it, and you're almost 4. You Should be doing it on your own."
"Put on your jacket. Yes, you know how to do it, you're almost 4."
"Speak like a big boy. You are almost 4." (This is when he uses baby talk because his 16 month old sister is still learning how to say her words. He sees that she gets what she wants like milk or crackers when she signs or says basic words.)
What I thought was motivating ended up backfiring on me. My son equated being 4 with having more responsibility and he's not down with it at all. Why be 4 when being 3 means you still get help? Not bad thinking for an almost 4 year old :) So my son's living in the moment of being 3 and trying to soak it all up before he turns 4 at the end of the month.
His best friend is also living in the moment. We went to her birthday party yesterday. She got some new outfits and she was concerned that they all be size 4, well because she is 4. She can't wear size 3 anymore because she's not 3, and she's not 5 yet, so size 5 is out of the question. She has to wear size 4. It's as if she was saying...don't hold me back, I'm growing up, but don't make me grow up too fast...I'm 4! She's living in the moment.
Too many times I'm doing something and wishing I was doing something else, but if I change tack, I wish I was doing the original activity, because I really need to get it done. I feel like I never live in the moment, but always thinking of what's to come. It's not a good way to live. I have a fantastic life and yes I have a lot to do being a Stay at Home Mom (SAHM): being cruise director for the family's activities, running errands to for the supplies to keep our family dressed, fed, and to do the activities we want to do, point person for everything going on, plus being there 100% for my husband and kids, not to mention the activities or committees I have joined so that I can continue to be well-rounded, oh, and the crafts I enjoy doing!
So I will take a page out of Boogie and his best friend's book and live in the moment. Get the things done that need to get done, but enjoy life, too! Thanks for the reminder, my dear 4 year olds!
