Sam Day

According to the goofy ticker to the left, our biggest boy is 3 years, 5 months, 2 weeks and 2 days old today.  He's pretty much the most amazing person I know.  I remember when he was born and I finally got to really hold him in the hospital (after they'd rushed him to NICU to make sure he was okay and that the acrobatics he performed in order to get the cord wrapped twice around his tiny neck did not actually hurt him) and I locked eyes with that little miracle and he actually picked his head up to stare back up at me . . . my heart was his.  My Sam is so curious, smart, calm and sweet-natured.  He's the best parts of his daddy and I wrapped up in in a tall, skinny body and sealed with a goofy grin and big-bellied laugh.

*Sigh*

Love him.  To pieces.  

So imagine my heart-break when I picked him up from school today to hear his teacher report that he "had a rough day."  At first I thought she meant he was extra tired or didn't want to leave the water table or maybe refused to drink his milk.  But she continued to elaborate by saying that "he had some trouble pushing other children and seemed short-tempered."  Blinking back the tears, I hugged my big boy and tried talking to him after getting him in the car.  He didn't offer any insight though (remember, he *rarely* talks about how school went) so I called the Hubs.  He felt terrible too and suggested that maybe Sam's just feeling left out.  We both talked about how yesterday he'd asked each of us only half a million times to read the same book with him.  I kept putting him off to do laundry or change Max and Dave came home from work and made dinner with barely any down time with the boys.

We both felt awful with our realization.  Sam needs more of our time and FULL attention.  I realize that even though I've taken the lead on the majority of the housework as a stay-at-home mom, I need to separate myself from it even as it surrounds me daily.  I can't let my desire to stay on top of the daily chores cut into the time I should be spending with my Sam.  I need to trust that the house won't crumble and fall if I skip a day or three of housework and focus instead on reading books, building forts, taking walks, digging holes and making projects with my big boy.  And be in the moment completely, not distracted by the never-ending list of to-dos running through my head.  The Hubs, feeling just as bad, has decided to try to get to work much earlier to be able to get home much earlier to spend more time with the boys.

So we agreed that we needed to do something special for our Sammer Jam.  We decided to surprise him with a trip to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner and playtime!!  It was loud, kinda crowded, and the pizza is still disagreeing with my tummy, but our guy had a blast running around, spending tokens, and collecting tickets!  I loved seeing him  with his Daddy having a great time on a random Thursday night.  I told him we were celebrating "Sam Day."  He was thrilled.  

Here he is too excited to decide what to do first:

Wackin-A-Mole or three:

I love the Hubs in the background, cheering him on!

Little brother, always watching big brother:

 

Flying high in the helicopter:

Riding Scoop with his buddy Bob the Builder:

 

And lots and lots and LOTS of climbing, sliding, and running through those ceiling tubes.  

Love this boy.  I just hope I can be a good enough mother to give him a childhood that oozes with happy memories of us doing stuff together.  I want him to feel loved and listened to and appreciated every day of his life.  I want to have the energy and desire to always be able to put aside whatever chore I'm trying to cross off my list to sit and read that same book for the millionth time.  Because one day he's not even going to ask me.  And that just breaks my heart even thinking about it!   


Here's to being actively in the moment.  Paying attention to those you love the most.  Making memories that will bring smiles to their faces when they're older.  Happy Sam Day!!  :)