Generally, I don't blog about things like this but I, more or less, wanted to document this so I would have it until forever.
My son is probably one of the sweetest, kindest, most loving little boys I know. He includes everyone and will give you the last bite of his food so that you can enjoy it, as well. He loves to play and say hello to all he meets. He is, though, a bit shy depending on the situation.
This leads me to the story to come:
My best friend from, what seems like a million years, is in town visiting us before she leaves on her mission trip to Haiti in December. She lives 3000 miles away on the complete opposite coast, so we don't see her as often as I would like (which would be daily, if I had my way). Rather than put her up in some hotel where we would see her less, she is staying in our sewing room (lucky lady!) next door to my son's room. When she first arrived, he was a bit apprehensive. He doesn't remember meeting her when he was 1 1/2 a year ago, so it's like meeting someone new for the first time all over. While he knows that she is a good person because mommy and daddy like her and have her around, he wasn't too sure about how comfortable he should be with her one-on-one.
In fact, he clung to my leg or would just hover around me like a little puppy when she first arrived. That was, until yesterday.
We had gymnastics yesterday and she came with us to cheer on my Bubba. See, he had a rough go at gymnastics last week. It was his first time having to go on his own and not have mommy sitting next to him or following him as he climbed, swung, rolled, tucked, dove, and slid around the room. It left an impression on him because, the moment we went through the front door to enter the building, he began to cry and relive that day. I was so worried that it was going to be a repeat performance. I had prayed all night that God would give him the strength to go out and try on his own, but it didn't look to bright.
Then, as if dipping his toe into the waters to test the temperature, he tried doing the warm-ups with the class while mommy sat on the sideline in the "mommy chair." And you know what, he did it! He did the WHOLE class with the other kids. No mommy sitting next to him. Just he and his classmates. I was so proud! And my bestie was there to help cheer him on. I think he treasured that. I truly believe that it changed how he viewed her. He realized that she was a friend. Not just mommy and daddy's friend, but HIS friend.
He finished up class. Got his stamp. And we drove home. He took a nap, and when he woke up, he had a new friend.
They played together, read together, and drank tea together. But, for me, the best part of all of this was the conversation he had with her:
Bubba: "Aunt Courtney, want to be my friend?"
AC: "Sure!"
B: "Ok. You're my best friend. And you put your tea over here by my tea because they're friends." (Puts her mug by his cup.) "They're best friends because we are best friends."
My son is probably one of the sweetest, kindest, most loving little boys I know. He includes everyone and will give you the last bite of his food so that you can enjoy it, as well. He loves to play and say hello to all he meets. He is, though, a bit shy depending on the situation.
This leads me to the story to come:
My best friend from, what seems like a million years, is in town visiting us before she leaves on her mission trip to Haiti in December. She lives 3000 miles away on the complete opposite coast, so we don't see her as often as I would like (which would be daily, if I had my way). Rather than put her up in some hotel where we would see her less, she is staying in our sewing room (lucky lady!) next door to my son's room. When she first arrived, he was a bit apprehensive. He doesn't remember meeting her when he was 1 1/2 a year ago, so it's like meeting someone new for the first time all over. While he knows that she is a good person because mommy and daddy like her and have her around, he wasn't too sure about how comfortable he should be with her one-on-one.
In fact, he clung to my leg or would just hover around me like a little puppy when she first arrived. That was, until yesterday.
We had gymnastics yesterday and she came with us to cheer on my Bubba. See, he had a rough go at gymnastics last week. It was his first time having to go on his own and not have mommy sitting next to him or following him as he climbed, swung, rolled, tucked, dove, and slid around the room. It left an impression on him because, the moment we went through the front door to enter the building, he began to cry and relive that day. I was so worried that it was going to be a repeat performance. I had prayed all night that God would give him the strength to go out and try on his own, but it didn't look to bright.
Then, as if dipping his toe into the waters to test the temperature, he tried doing the warm-ups with the class while mommy sat on the sideline in the "mommy chair." And you know what, he did it! He did the WHOLE class with the other kids. No mommy sitting next to him. Just he and his classmates. I was so proud! And my bestie was there to help cheer him on. I think he treasured that. I truly believe that it changed how he viewed her. He realized that she was a friend. Not just mommy and daddy's friend, but HIS friend.
He finished up class. Got his stamp. And we drove home. He took a nap, and when he woke up, he had a new friend.
They played together, read together, and drank tea together. But, for me, the best part of all of this was the conversation he had with her:
Bubba: "Aunt Courtney, want to be my friend?"
AC: "Sure!"
B: "Ok. You're my best friend. And you put your tea over here by my tea because they're friends." (Puts her mug by his cup.) "They're best friends because we are best friends."
And he and his Aunt were inseparable the rest of the evening. He even requested that she sleep next to him with mommy and daddy. Like a sleepover.
He said his prayers for her from the prayer book she had given him for his 2nd birthday. He gave her smoochies and a big squeezie hug and they said goodnight. There was no sleepover, yet. But I 'm sure he will persuade her as her best friend.
So, what's the point, you ask? Well, any of you who are parents understand how much we want our kids to have good friends and good people in their lives who truly care about them. The fact that my best friend is now my son's best friend is something indescribable. He has accepted her into his friends circle and deemed her as the most important friend he has. It's awesome! I may have even gotten verklempt while she told me the story of how they became best friends.
It was a big day, today, for my son. A wonderful, amazing day full of triumph and friendship.
Keep sweating and sewing.
Adora
He said his prayers for her from the prayer book she had given him for his 2nd birthday. He gave her smoochies and a big squeezie hug and they said goodnight. There was no sleepover, yet. But I 'm sure he will persuade her as her best friend.
So, what's the point, you ask? Well, any of you who are parents understand how much we want our kids to have good friends and good people in their lives who truly care about them. The fact that my best friend is now my son's best friend is something indescribable. He has accepted her into his friends circle and deemed her as the most important friend he has. It's awesome! I may have even gotten verklempt while she told me the story of how they became best friends.
It was a big day, today, for my son. A wonderful, amazing day full of triumph and friendship.
Keep sweating and sewing.
Adora