the journey

there is a funny little saying that i heard when i first became a mom, i've never forgotten it.

"they don't come with instruction manuals"

they being the babies, of course. it's so true, isn't it? there are times that i wish there was a reference page, a place to quickly look up the equivalent of a definition of a word .. you know the moments - the stop-to-stare-at-the-face-of-the-child-because-they-asked-you-how-a-baby-is-born-for-real-look. you think it's too early to explain, but they don't kind of moment.

yeah, we're in a phase of that. a really large, extra long collection of some of the aforementioned moments. 'cept there ain't no kid asking me difficult to answer questions (i would welcome that easy stuff right now ...) we're in a 8.5 year old boy who pushes the limits kind of lengthy phase. the child clearly has felt he's missed out on the mischief he could have gotten in when he was a toddler. he's decided to catch up.

this summer.

harrass the little sister.

always have to be first with everything ... even sitting down on the couch.

tell mom and dad every time little sister looks at him cross-eyed.

allow the impulsivity of the 8 year old mind to be the keeper of the flame.

find small ways to make the little sister give a big holler of NOOOOOOOOOO! because he knows that i will react to that shrill noise.

beg for comedic attention.

oh, my list is a long one ....

and the truth is - that list is NO different than any other family and mom's who has an 8.5 year old living with her.

i know.

'tis a journey ... one that i am so thankful to be on. one that i am blessed to be a part of. one that i will look back on and wonder where the 8.5 year old spirit-filled little boy has gone ...

he is mine. and i love him.