A Mommy's Editorial

For the past few days Sawyer has been off and on with asking me about pregnancy.  "How do babies come out of their mommy's tummies?"  "Does it hurt to get the babies out?"  "Aren't you glad you're not pregnant any more?"  I've answered honestly and am thankful that one of his questions wasn't "how are babies created?".

All of these questions and more are just precious to me as I step back and observe just how my Big Boy is growing up.  I love his mind.  I always have.  I love how he thinks, what he thinks about, how he articulates his thoughts.  It is so much fun to be Sawyer's mom!!  Thank you Jesus for this precious gift.  He makes my heart so happy and is the second thing to ever make me feel pure joy (his daddy being the first).

He has also taken to giving me massages.  Love it!  I wrote a post about this earlier you can scroll down to find the entry titled Future Physical Therapist...

Sawyer is growing in his role as big brother as Dempsey grows.  We still have to remind Sawyer to be gentle and he struggles with remembering to put his things high enough where Dempsey can't reach them.  I know that I'm a mom who LOVES natural consequences but there are just some things where a little reminder can go a long way in saving heartache.

My Monster is still the sweetest, most gentle kid I know.  So tender-hearted.  Yesterday he let his emotions get the better of him (like we all do from time to time) and he hit me out of anger.  I didn't overreact, yell, or retaliate.  I simply asked him "Why did you hit Mommy?"  He said "Because I am angry."  That led him to being put in time out and then sent out into the garden for some child labor time... a.k.a. you-really-need-to-think-about-how-you-treat-your-daddy's-wife time.  As he was working in the "rock quarry" I watered the garden.  We talked about the incident a little bit here and there.  When Jake was done doing whatever he was working on at the time Sawyer and I walked over to him and I told Sawyer "You need to tell Daddy why you hit his wife."  I don't know exactly why I chose to word it that way other than it sheds a new light on the way he looks at me... I'm not just his mom, I'm someone's wife... somebody else loves me and values me.  I'm sure there's more in that somewhere but that's not the point of this post.  Anyway, when Sawyer had to explain the incident the crocodile tears came.  It hits him like a ton of bricks and it's all he can do to breathe in between asking for forgiveness and apologizing.  It really is a sweet process to watch.

When he's done explaining himself I always offer to cuddle with him.  This way we can reconnect and he can talk out his feelings and physically know that I love him no matter what he does.  Such powerful moments we, as parents, have the opportunity to embrace.  Lots of growing, on both sides, that is possible.

Sawyer is exceptional at being affirming.  He is also good at trash talking (thanks to Granddad, my dad).  I know it seems contradictory but once you've got a firm grasp of the first one the second one just becomes comical.  We just have to shape his trash-talking lingo and make it family friendly in case he does this around people who aren't familiar with it.

He has always been and still is our boundary respecter, rule follower, appeaser.  He loves to help, especially when it's his idea.  I work hard to make sure that he is not a people pleaser or a yes man.  This can be tricky.  It's a fine line to walk when you tell a child "life isn't all about you" and then they tend to make it all about someone else.  It's okay if that someone else is the Almighty but often times it's not.  Jake and I work to talk these things through with Sawyer when they come up.

Speaking of God... Sawyer is still acutely in tune with Him and it makes me so proud.  I love his genuine prayers that include things like "Thank you for making us... thank you for our Wii... thank you for everything... thank you for our planet... thank you for our house... in your Son's most precious name, amen."  Oh, brings grown men to tears so you know it's good stuff!  He feels deeply the angst of the human condition... I'm just not sure how to guide this gift.  So much I want him to do but I'm conflicted because I feel he is too young (certain arenas are just not safe for kiddos).  I really should just trust the Lord.  I know I won't put Sawyer in harms way and I know he brings great joy to all who encounter him.  Therefore, I want more people to encounter him.  :-)

Clearly I could go on and on about my Monster.  However, I will stop here and save the rest for another Mommy's Editorial.  This was fun and I hope it doesn't detract from the Sawyer-ness this blog is intended for... I just wanted to share the Mommy's perspective.