From the Mouths of Babes

My son said something to me yesterday that was so wise beyond his years and yet so simple that only a child could think of it that it brought me to tears. He is 12. He's at the age where he's struggling between hanging onto being a little boy and becoming an adolescent (bleh). He's very sweet, loves fiercely, and takes everything to heart. (He gets it from his mom along with splotching when we cry...sorry buddy.)

We've talked a lot this week about the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary. I allowed him to watch some of the news stories with me and I answered the questions that I could. We both cried looking at the photos and reading about the lives of the little boys and girls who were killed. He was particularly touched by the little boy named Noah as they share the same name. I think that with his age and the fact that he's in middle school with bigger kids (which terrifies me), it's important that he know about what's going on in the world around him. I obviously don't tell him the gory details of many things, but I want him to be educated and aware.

Yesterday we watched some of the coverage of the memorial services for the victims. Noah asked me afterward what I would do if something ever happened to him or to his sister. Instantly, my breath caught in my throat and I felt that panic that every parent feels at the mere thought. It's impossible to describe the love a parent has for a child to someone who isn't a parent but I told him the best version of the truth that I could, "Noah, if I ever lost you and Peyton, I'd probably want to curl into a ball and stay there forever." And I would. I cannot imagine my life without my babies...not even on their worst days (and there have been a LOT of those along the way). He seemed to accept that answer (thankfully...typically he asks more than his fair share of questions), I hugged him, and we moved on to talk about an episode of The Regular Show that he saw. Lol.

A little later, while we were out running errands, I made the comment that I wished we had snow instead of all of this rainy, dreary weather. Noah thought for a few seconds and then said, "Mom. Maybe all of this rain is God's way of telling us how sad he is that all of those kids died. It wouldn't really be fair if we all had a perfect, snowy Christmas while they get no Christmas at all. They may be in Heaven now, but their moms and dads are still here and really sad." Touche son, well said. While I'm grumbling about the crappy weather, those mothers and fathers are without their children. They won't get to hear the giggles as they watch The Grinch, Rudolph, or Charlie Brown. There won't be any plates of cookies and glasses of milk for Santa. They won't get to watch the joy on those little faces and squeals of delight as they open their gifts. Those adorable new Christmas dresses and suits chosen for the holiday church services will now be worn for a different service or not at all.

Thank you Noah for reminding me how caught up we can all get in the little, petty things this time of year. We don't need to dream of a white Christmas. This year, we are among the blessed to be spending the holidays together.

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