Editorial of a Mom

I write a column for the newspaper that I work for. It is always about life as a Mom. This was my first one. They named the column: Another Gray Hair - isn't that perfect?! I thought I should post at least once in 2008. :) You can see my other columns at: www.OthelloIndependent.com. I do not put in the names of my boys in print. If people know me or them then they will already know their names. I couldn't get the photo to work - thought i better just post just in case I don't get back to it.

Oh, to see life through the eyes of a child.
My youngest son is 20 months old. He is so animated and expressive without using words. His smile and laugh lights up the room. He is adorable – but I am biased.
I don’t know where I have been recently, but he seems to have awakened to life and curiosity this past week. Was it him asleep, or me? It is so easy to miss these little fascinations and delights of life. Watching the leaves flutter in the breeze, the magic of a new toy, seeing himself in the mirror or in a photo, playing peek-a-boo, reading a favorite book. All of these things amaze and intrigue him.
Have I lost those fascinations with age? Is it all the rushing around, deadlines, and to-do lists that have stolen that from me? How hard is it to take a moment to fascinate on the wonders of the world? How often do I do it… never.
I have been trying to declutter our lives of the excess toys, clothes and unnecessary things that seem to accumulate. I have a growing pile of things to give away.
My inquisitive boys, ages 5, 3 and 1, found the toy pile that I thought I had so expertly hid. Many of these had moving parts with lots of little pieces that seemed to end up all over the house, in the dogs mouth, under foot, everywhere. My boys got everything out and sorted it into piles on my bed of which parts go together with which toys. These were all loud toys that make noise in some way. Elefun is an elephant with a long nose that has butterflies that fly all over that you catch with nets - LOTS of little parts! This is only one of three toys that I’m sick of.
“We will not be buying toys that make noise this year!” I hear my lovely husband say.
“Tell all of your family. If they buy a toy for the boys that make noise they I will send it back to them!”
But somehow a few always seem to make it under the tree or as a birthday gift.
Toys with moving parts that make noise are my youngest’s big fascination. His giggles and squeals of delight kept me entertained and mesmerized by him. I just loved to see his eyes light up and the glee that flowed from him. May be I should keep these toys after all. That thought will go away after having it in our home again for a short time, very short time.
May we all have that curiosity and fascination once in awhile.
Life though the eyes of child would make us all happier. We would forget about the stress of life and the lists. We would eat cake for breakfast, and it would be ok. We could dress ourselves in our favorite clothes everyday, and would not have to match. We don’t have to wear shoes, or coats, ever. Playing would be a priority over the dishes.