Journies

Jaxon doesn't like his photo taken. He does these weird faces and moves his head in awkward positions. So I explained to him that when he's all grown up and has his own little boy, all I'll have left in the house to remind me of all the fun we had together, is my pictures.

The boy burst into tears, ran to me, sobbed something about how he doesn't ever want to leave me and doesn't want that day to come, and that even when he's eight, he still wants me to cuddle him.

Crack went my heart. I explained that growing up is okay, and it's what we are supposed to do and it's a good thing, and we promised that we would build houses next to each other and live side by side, always. I don't know how his future wife will feel about that, but for now, we are happy with that plan, and he lets me take pictures of him.





He's growing up. It's happy and it's sad, and he's turning from a little boy into a big boy and the transition is fast and furious and it's at these huge milestones that I fiercely want to freeze time because it's speeding up faster and faster.

*****

Penelope is doing some growing up of her own as well. We've been learning some hard lessons, like, we don't steal. Yes, she stole. I took her shopping and she fell in love with a piddly panda necklace that was $10. I would have paid .10 but not actual American dollars. So we found some really cute bags instead. So after we picked out ONE bag, paid for it and left the store, I opened up the bag tucked gently inside was panda necklace.

Tricky, tricky trickster.

I did not want to give the stealing lecture, I wanted to just sweep it under the rug, I wanted to ignore it, but in my heart of hearts I knew it wasn't an accident. I knew it was pre-meditated three year old theft and it needed to be dealt with and nipped in the bud.

After all, I distinctly remember the one and only time I stole and the experience was so horrific I never did it again. I knew I needed to give her the same gift.

So after a little confrontation, which is super hard when the face in question is this one:



we marched right back to Gymboree and confessed our sin. Through shame and sobs, Penelope handed back the the necklace, said "sorwy" and we left.

I don't know if I handled it perfectly, I don't know if she'll ever steal again, but I do know that she knows it's wrong. And that's my job...teaching her what's right and what's not.

*****

Lulubooboo, well, she's just a ham and a half.

Sometimes the twists and the turns on this road of parenthood are not fun, but they are necessary to bring our kids to the people they need to become, and although it's hard and it's messy and raising kids isn't this a perfect package and it's a lot more than just a pretty nursery, I am so blessed to be able to walk with my kids down these less than cheery life paths. I'll continue to do that, to hold their little hands as we go together, sometimes me teaching them, but more often than not, it's them teaching me, and that's the most exciting part.