This morning, I was feeding Solly on the recliner while the other kids played around the living room. Solly has been a pretty crappy feeder these days, and it was a BIG accomplishment to actually be getting milk into him at this point in the day. But he’s not content when eating, so anything is distracting, and ends the feed. This is a somewhat impossible situation, because I have lots of little ones, and they are always running around and playing loudly, as kids should, but in turn they are always distracting Solly. Its not fair to ask them not to play, so we just struggle through this time, and thats ok.
When I officially gave up on the feeding, I tried to stand up to go put Solly down for a nap, and I was COVERED in toys. This tends to drive me nuts. A pet peeve, I suppose you could call it. They are everywhere, so I have to chuck everything off of myself as I try to get up, things inevitably get lost within/behind the chair, and I step on the sharp pieces of duplo as I walk away. Makes. Me. Crazy.
But I remembered back to earlier in the morning, when Solly was in his jumparoo. He was happy in it for a while, but eventually got sad. I couldn’t go to him right away, but I knew he was safe, so I left him in there for a while to fuss while I finished up the task at hand. By the time I got to him, the little seat was LOADED with every stuffed toy from the kids bedrooms, the few small ones we have out in the toys, and some extra receiving blankets. I was annoyed at first, having to pull out countless toys before I could actually reach my baby, until I saw all three of my other kids standing by, watching closely.
Me: Whats up, guys?
Dekker: We tried to help Solly feel better
Laela: Ya! Got baby Solly something soft, and something soft, and something soft…
Isn’t that lovely? I get it! And I mean, I got it before, too. But today it feels fresh, and I’m really glad for the refresher. Thats why they pack toys on me, too. To show me love, or to comfort me, or to comfort whoever is inevitably sitting on my lap.
Even just right now, as I write this, Dekker took an intentional dive at the floor and landed on blocks. That hurts. Before I could say anything, Laela gasped and offered Dekker his puppy. “Uh, ya, I guess so,” was his response. So she ran off to find his stuffed puppy, and gave it to him, rubbed his shoulder for a second, and went on her way.
Now, when I walk into the room and see Rowan pouring an old bottle all over Solly’s face, I’m going to see it for exactly what it is. Its not a mess. Its Ro trying to help out with Solly. Which is HUGE, considering Rowan is 1.5 years old.
These children are sometimes WAY more loving and thoughtful than I am. I should take a lesson from them.