Today marks the beginning of the 3rd trimester! I started the morning with a half mile swim, and after lunch I mowed our rather large lawn (not huge, but definitely bigger than average) -- we don't have a rider. I may not have an appetite, but I have energy! I love that, and I'm hoping it lasts me at least a few more weeks. I can't believe I'm at the bottom 3rd!
Another success worth noting was Reid's non-solicited apology. After my swim at the YMCA we were out in the yard getting things ready for me to mow. Most of our sunflowers were knocked over by a big wind storm and they needed cutting. Reid insisted I cut the biggest one down, but at least two times I explained why we were going to leave the sturdy one's standing. I even went so far as to show him the bees on one of them, and we had a good talk about how the seeds will continue to grown and help the birds and the bees that visit our yard.
Then I turned my back.
By the time I made it to the back door he'd knocked several of the sturdy sunflowers down, including the biggest one. I immediately hollered at him "Reid, that makes me very angry!" And he immediately burst into tears. I let him stand next to his fallen sunflowers and bawl while Nell and I went inside. By the time he finally made it to the door he was begging me to go get his sunflower for him so he could have the biggest one. I told him I absolutely would not go cut it down and reminded him of how angry I was that he knocked it down so it could no longer grow.
We went about our separate duties. I, to the basement for another load of laundry; and he, to the couch for a quick viewing of Peg + Cat. When I was just about done in the laundry room I heard a little voice say "Mommy, I have to tell you something."
"Just a minute buddy."
I finished the load and turned to find him sitting on the bottom stair. "Mommy, I'm sorry I knocked that big sunflower down."
This wasn't a heart melting moment so much as it was a heart beaming moment. For years we have been working on apologies, and I don't know that he has ever offered one so delayed without prompting. This was truly coming from his heart.
"I forgive you buddy," I said as we hugged. We took some time on the bottom of the stairs to talk about bad choices and mistakes. I asked him if we could go fix the sunflower and he seemed puzzled. I think he knew it couldn't be fixed, but maybe he thought I was tricking him. I pointed out that it can't be fixed. That sometimes we make mistakes that can't be fixed, but I reminded him we can always say sorry and be forgiven.
It was a tender little moment with my buddy, and just another reminder of how grown up he is becoming.
Another success worth noting was Reid's non-solicited apology. After my swim at the YMCA we were out in the yard getting things ready for me to mow. Most of our sunflowers were knocked over by a big wind storm and they needed cutting. Reid insisted I cut the biggest one down, but at least two times I explained why we were going to leave the sturdy one's standing. I even went so far as to show him the bees on one of them, and we had a good talk about how the seeds will continue to grown and help the birds and the bees that visit our yard.
Then I turned my back.
By the time I made it to the back door he'd knocked several of the sturdy sunflowers down, including the biggest one. I immediately hollered at him "Reid, that makes me very angry!" And he immediately burst into tears. I let him stand next to his fallen sunflowers and bawl while Nell and I went inside. By the time he finally made it to the door he was begging me to go get his sunflower for him so he could have the biggest one. I told him I absolutely would not go cut it down and reminded him of how angry I was that he knocked it down so it could no longer grow.
We went about our separate duties. I, to the basement for another load of laundry; and he, to the couch for a quick viewing of Peg + Cat. When I was just about done in the laundry room I heard a little voice say "Mommy, I have to tell you something."
"Just a minute buddy."
I finished the load and turned to find him sitting on the bottom stair. "Mommy, I'm sorry I knocked that big sunflower down."
This wasn't a heart melting moment so much as it was a heart beaming moment. For years we have been working on apologies, and I don't know that he has ever offered one so delayed without prompting. This was truly coming from his heart.
"I forgive you buddy," I said as we hugged. We took some time on the bottom of the stairs to talk about bad choices and mistakes. I asked him if we could go fix the sunflower and he seemed puzzled. I think he knew it couldn't be fixed, but maybe he thought I was tricking him. I pointed out that it can't be fixed. That sometimes we make mistakes that can't be fixed, but I reminded him we can always say sorry and be forgiven.
It was a tender little moment with my buddy, and just another reminder of how grown up he is becoming.
2 comments:
You are such a good mommy sis! Love that story! Thanks for sharing.
Way to go Reid!!! If it had been your Mom, I'd have spanked her 'til the cows came home. Oh, yes, and I would have yelled at the top of my lungs the entire time I was spanking her -- loud enough for all the neighbors to hear 1/2 mile away. I was such a good parent, wasn't I sis? You are definitely an improvement over your Pa!
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