Little arms reaching...

Hands down - best feeling in the world - is when my son reaches out his pudgy little arms asking for Momma to pick him up. WOW.. Arms wide open, eyes adoring me... love at its purest form.  I pray that my son will always look at me that adoringly. Now most of you Momma's to older children will tell me to enjoy it while it lasts - and I am, but is there a way to have my baby boy grow to be a big boy and still reach out his arms to me (even if its metaphorically).

I was at a Pampered Chef party (how many ppl LOVE pampered chef?) a few months back, and the consultant was sharing a story with me afterwards about her 19 yr. old son.  She said that when he was a boy, she would always read to him, and one of their favourites was the Robert Munch, "Love you forever".  In the story (for those of you who've never read it... you NEED TO), the author repeats one verse over and over;

"I'll love you forever, 

I'll like you for always, 

as long as I'm living 

my baby you'll be."

At the end of the story it changes slightly and its the baby all grown up now singing to his mother. And he sings;

"I'll love you forever

I'll like you for always

As long as I'm living

My Mommy you'll be"

It's really just the sweetest story. So this consultant is sharing about how they brought her 19 yr old to college for the first time. They were getting him set up in his dorm room and she was just a wreck. She said her stomach was in knots and she hadn't been able to eat all day, because her baby boy was leaving home.  I can imagine her agony.  Well it came time to leave and she could barely make it to the car from her emotions. Her son walked with her and kept telling her he was going to be fine.

Well just as she was about to say goodbye her son pulled her in his arms and whispered in her ear.

"I'll love you forever

I'll like you for always

As long as I'm living 

My Mommy you'll be."

Obviously she started to cry, I was crying as she was telling me this story.!  Imagine your 19 yr old son remembering this story from his childhood and saying this to his mother.... She obviously cultivated a relationship with her son over the years that brought them to this point.

I think to myself - what kind of relationship do I want to have with my son 19 years from now? I want him to still look at me with those blue blue eyes that say to me, "Momma you are my world!" Ok so maybe one day I won't be his whole world anymore (let's be realistic) but to still have a relationship of deep love and connection.  

Perhaps it is my naivete or inexperience talking - but I believe that open arms connection is fostered now.  It's like the story of the little boy who was always asking his daddy to play, and daddy was always too busy, until the little boy became an adult and his dad was now older and asked to spend time with his son, but now the son was too busy for the dad. (that story is just heartbreaking)

So my goal is that now - I will always take him in my arms when he reaches out for me, and later when his reaching is a little different, not so much the snuggle he's looking for but he reaches for me to watch him play soccer, learn the new riff on his guitar, or help him figure out his math problems.  Each reach needs to be responded to.  So that he keeps on reaching.

I challenge each of us today - despite our busy busy lives.... the housework that is calling our names, our tired bodies just wanting to relax and watch a show... if your child is reaching for you - don't forget that if you reach back now - he'll/she'll continue to reach for you forever.

That's all for today. I hope you and your family enjoy this beautiful summer day.