Parenting brings so many observations; some are simple and some, not so much. A simple one is how a child can reignite joy for an activity that you view as...hmm, just something not high on your list to "go & do." Like bowling. Sure, it's fun - like, when you're 10. I'm not much of a bowler but I'm glad people like it; I had several bowling birthdays as a child. But as an adult, bowling alleys are gross. Germ filled. Other people's toe jam. Eeek. Until we took Calvin one night out of desperation for a new activity. Joy filled is really the only way to describe his response.
And now I view bowling as a legitimately fun family outing. Like I even suggested it the other day. As I helped Calvin put on his special shoes, size 10 lil' kids, I almost broken into tears. Look at those feet. I remember those tiny baby feet that used to wear puppy dog moccasin shoes. I remember a new walker refusing to wear any shoes. I remember a 3 year old's meltdown in Target over trying on a pair of flip flops - relieved that this past June, he eagerly tried on a pair and even thought they'd be "a good idea for the pool." We are now in light-up Spiderman shoes and size 10 bowling shoes. How time flies and how it will continue to. I don't ever want to forget how big these shoes look now & how small they'll look a few years from now.
So this book came across my path in a special way, one I won't get into, but it was neat. And it is just the book I needed. It is about being present and calm. About choosing peace and offering peace. About listening to the heart of your child, truly listening, and then responding in a better way. It's about compassion and perspective. How to be the parent you want to be; how to be better. I'm grateful to notice a precious pair of size 10 bowling shoes & I'm grateful for a book that teaches me to be a peace-filled and compassion-filled mom.
