Monday, May 23, 2011

picking dandelions

I always knew that as a parent, one of my greatest struggles would be between my practical side and my parenting side.  Practically, it's hard to let your child make a mess, over and over again, knowing that you'll have to clean it up over and over again.  It's hard to let your child do something on his own when it would be so much easier and faster to do it yourself.  It's hard to let your child make mistakes, when you can protect him.

But practicality is not always the best answer.  I've tried so hard to tame that practical and controlling part of my personality when it comes to some things about Cole.  Is it easy to let him throw the clean and newly folded clothes out of his dresser drawers? Is it easy to allow him to take every. single. DVD off the shelf and onto the floor?  Heck no. Sometimes I have to take a deep breath and remind myself how much he is learning and how important it is for him to experiment. 

So here Cole is, picking dandelions - even when it makes him sticky, or he blows dandelion seeds.  He's learning, and he's having fun - and that's way more important than anything else. 

(is it weird that I really want to munch on those chunky little thighs?)





1 comment:

  1. I love those photos! Reminds me of a song called Dandelions (you'll find me going back to the song again and again on my blog because it is my favorite song ever) by Five Iron Frenzy:

    In a field of yellow flowers,
    underneath the sun,
    bluest eyes that spark with lightning,
    boy with shoes undone.
    He is young, so full of hope,
    reveling in tiny dreams,
    filling up, his arms with flowers,
    right for giving any queen.

    Running to her beaming bright,
    while cradling his prize.
    A flickering of yellow light,
    within his mother's eyes.
    She holds them to her heart,
    keeping them where they'll be safe,
    clasped within her very marrow,
    dandelions in a vase.

    She sees love, where anyone else would see weeds.
    all hope is found.
    Here is everything he needs.

    Fathomless your endless mercy,
    weight I could not lift.
    Where do I fit in this puzzle,
    what good are these gifts?
    Not a martyr, or a saint,
    scarcely can I struggle through.
    All that I have ever wanted,
    was to give my best to you.

    Lord, search my heart,
    create in me something clean.
    Dandelions
    you see flowers in these weeds.

    Gently lifting hands to heaven,
    softened by the sweetest hush,
    a Father sings over his children,
    loving them so very much.
    More than words could warrant,
    deeper than the darkest blue,
    more than sacrifice could merit,
    Lord, I give my heart to you!

    I love this song even more after having boys!

    It is so hard to let them discover and learn while trying to keep the house neat and tidy! Little dudes have such an ability to make it through the house like tiny tornadoes! But I learned something with Isaac. When he'd go into the kitchen and pull all the dish cloths out of the drawer, we'd play for a while, then he'd help me put them back and close the drawer. He'd help me put his laundry back in his drawers when he'd pull them out. It was a good opportunity to teach him tidiness. It has taken a long time for him to start doing those things himself, but by the time he was 3, he was delivering clothes to rooms so we could put them away. And while we put things away, I always tell him, "This is something you need to learn now so you can help your future wife. Remember, a clean house makes a happy wife which leads to a happy husband!" He has no idea what I'm talking about, but he agrees, slams the drawer enthusiastically and then pulls all his toys out to play with :D LOL!

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