Out of this Momma's mouth?

"Outta the mouth of babes" is a common phrase, however I never truly appreciated the full depth of meaning there until having a little chatterer of my own. They speak the truth as they hear it and more importantly they represent a mirror of yourself. My Little Man will often say something and we think 'Oh I know where he got that from." but some comment require more relfection then others.

"RIGHT NOW!"
If you look of distracted in the dictionary you will see a picture of my Little Man right there. He is known to find 5 things to do between putting on one shoe (if he is not too distracted to even get that far) and the other. I know I am always telling him to do this or that "right now" (in a loud voice) as we are often on the 5th or 6th request. When you suddenly hear your toddler yell at you to "Get Down Table, RIGHT NOW!" you really know how they hear you. I don't yell as him...I'm firm, authoriative and loud enough to break through his thoughts...but he hears it as yelling. That's what matters.

"I'm busy"
As cute as this is to hear a toddler tell me his is too busy reading book to eat breakfast or too busy touching his elbow (seriously!) to wash up from lunch I have to reflect on why this is a new common phrase. Do I really tell him I am too busy to read with him or go for a walk or play or see inside his imaginative world for a moment. The dishes need doing, meals need to be made and laundry always always always needs to be put away. This is no excuse. I do not want my children to look back as think of their momma as being too busy to see them and that the work of life was more important then them. In my defense I don't think I'm that bad. Due to reflection on this lately I have been much more aware of stopping what I am doing and giving my kiddos the undivided attention they deserve...even if only for a minute.

"Time Out"
The last time my Little Man was mad at me and told me to go on time out because I was not listening to him I wanted to take it - and I was not listening very well aka doing what he told me to do. *SIGH* 30 minutes......Alone......I'm on my way! Just let me get my book and tea first! We use time out for a calm down time and as a break in the behviour pattern....boy o boy did I need it that morning!

Sometimes hearing myself back has been less then flattering, sometime funny and sometime proud that he is understanding why we do something and when it is appropriate, like the time out.

Yesterday, hearing my little man comfort his crying brother in the back seat of the car brought tears to my eyes.

"It otay Owen. It otay, Momma loves you. It otay Owen, Momma loves you"

 
As much as I may mess up time to time (okay.....on a daily basis) I take this a proof that I'm doing something right.