The Mommy Book

So this morning was one of those moments when you remember that it is always important to not get so caught up in the craziness that is your life that you forget to focus on the important things. My son has been having a number of behavioral/emotional issues that have kept my husband and myself on somewhat of an emotional roller coaster. Parenting of this little guy definitely taps all of our resources and cause us to have to be on our 'P's and Q's' constantly. He is consistently inconsistent so just when you decide upon a specific intervention he changes the table on you and stops exhibiting the problematic behavior lulling you back into a sense of normalcy before he acts out again. So anyway, in between the homework battles, sibling rivalry battles, the carpooling, monitoring of chores, cooking dinner, cleaning house chaos that characterizes our live, my son has asked me several times if he could read this Mommy Book to me. The book looked like a collection of inspirational sayings with pictures. Since the book did not look like the chapter books he has has been attempting to evade even though he is supposed to read for at least 15 minutes/day so I don't totally blow it as a Christian parent when I feel out his monthly reading log claiming that he has indeed actually read all the listed books for the requisite 15 minutes, I have been refusing and instead insisting that he do whatever it is he is supposed to be doing at that moment. Well, today was a rare pajama day Saturday where we were all lounging around casually doing chores with no scheduled activities. So after finally cleaning his room, he came to my room and asked if he could read the book to me while I was doing laundry. Recognising a need to not be so much like Attila the Hun all the time, I said sure. Despite my other daughter watching t.v. in the same room, my little guy settled himself on some pillows on the floor and proceeded to read about 50 of the most heartfelt inspirational quotes for mothers I have ever heard. I couldn't tear my eyes off of him. He periodically checked to make sure I was paying attention as he read each one. Oh, the tears were flowing. He was not fidgeting, making unnecessary noises to annoy others around him, tyring to kick the sh** out of anyone not smart enough to get out of his way, whining, tantrumming, or acting like he had never heard of hooked on phonics. He was reading passage after passage as if his little heart was trying to give a gift to my heart. I feel in love all over again and felt a renewed sense of fierce devotion to this kid and a commitment to slay dragons, kick through walls, and a refusal to give up on this great little boy who has such an amazing capacity to love.

I'm sure the next principal referral, potential revoking of his inter-district transfer, or unbelievable display of inappropriate behavior will upset me but I pray I never forget his reading of the mommy book.