Part of my job as a mother is to teach my children to be aware of the world around them. There are days that I feel like this lesson is being understood wonderfully and the kids are growing. Then there are days when I just shake my head a little and remind myself that there is still time to teach them.
Today I went to the hospital for a test (the continuing gall bladder expedition). The kids were all set. We had talked about this. They knew I probably wasn’t going to feel very good when I got home. We talked about what to do while I was gone, how to listen and be respectful to the one in charge, and to do their chores.
After the test was done, I went out to my van. I listened to my voicemails. One of them, I kid you now, went like this, “Mom, when are you going to be home? You’ve been gone a long time. *mumbling* And I’m bored. *mumbling* And there’s nothing here that I want to eat for lunch. *mumbling* Come home.”
At least I know that I am missed when I am gone! When I got home, we had a talk about how that phone call was not what we had talked about before I left!!
Tonight I am thankful that most days I feel like the kids are aware of the world around them. And that they recognize and act like they are not the only ones in the world! I want them to be confident, self-reliant, and self-assured people, who can look past themselves and really see others. And they will learn this! Eventually 😉 Even with me!