Perfect Moment Monday is about noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between. Once a week we engage in mindfulness about something that is right with our world. Everyone is welcome to join.
Moment #1: It's 11:00 p.m. on Saturday. We are going to go to bed soon, but we hear a commotion upstairs in her room. My husband goes upstairs and then yells for me to help out. Her sippy cup leaked water ALL over her, her bedding...everything. We change her, change the bedding. But her hair is still wet. We bring her downstairs and turn down the lights, finish watching a little television while she snuggles against us, her hair drying. She is awake, but quiet (so unlike the active toddler we usually see in the day). It strikes me that in a few years time, it will be just us three on the couch watching television while my son is in college. I also remember times like these with my son when he was her age. The small unexpected moments in the last minutes of the day remind me yet again how much I love her.
Moment #2: Saturday during the day. We go to Salem to walk around and enjoy the day. We go to a wax museum that has Horror statues from various classic horror movies in it. Scary music is played and the atmosphere is very haunted house-like, but yet pretty tame (no one jumps out at you). My son LOVES classic horror movies and scary stories--but within his control. So, when we go there, he bulks. He is scared to go in, even though I say I will be right with him. We go in the lobby and see incredibly wonderful replicas of the Mummy and Frankenstein (one of his favorite characters) and the Phantom of the Opera. The museum's operator talks to him and explains that the rest of the exhibit is the same, just darkened (with spooky music and sounds, which are actually creeping me out a little). He still bulks. But then says he will do it if I go in with him. And then the owner and I spend about 10 minutes trying to get him to go inside the exhibit. And he starts to, then stops. Both the owner and I are very patient, but we can just tell--its not going to happen. My son and I leave...I am a bit tearful, because I know that he is letting his imagination stop him from enjoying something I know he would like, if only he would let himself try to overcome his fear. I tell him nothing of this, I feel that he tried his best and that is fine, I was willing to leave it at that. But he says to me "Mom, are you crying?...Let's go in again--I will do it this time."
And, after a little more hesitation, we do. At first he wants me to hold onto him. But, after a while, he becomes my son again--intrigued by the characters and the movies and the various artifacts. He points out that the music and sounds actually are the worst of it to him, and when he hears a skip in the music, it helps him to understand the artifice of it all. And then we go through the whole exhibit again.
And then he makes his father go with him a third time.
To see more Perfect Moments, click HERE.
Moment #1: It's 11:00 p.m. on Saturday. We are going to go to bed soon, but we hear a commotion upstairs in her room. My husband goes upstairs and then yells for me to help out. Her sippy cup leaked water ALL over her, her bedding...everything. We change her, change the bedding. But her hair is still wet. We bring her downstairs and turn down the lights, finish watching a little television while she snuggles against us, her hair drying. She is awake, but quiet (so unlike the active toddler we usually see in the day). It strikes me that in a few years time, it will be just us three on the couch watching television while my son is in college. I also remember times like these with my son when he was her age. The small unexpected moments in the last minutes of the day remind me yet again how much I love her.
Moment #2: Saturday during the day. We go to Salem to walk around and enjoy the day. We go to a wax museum that has Horror statues from various classic horror movies in it. Scary music is played and the atmosphere is very haunted house-like, but yet pretty tame (no one jumps out at you). My son LOVES classic horror movies and scary stories--but within his control. So, when we go there, he bulks. He is scared to go in, even though I say I will be right with him. We go in the lobby and see incredibly wonderful replicas of the Mummy and Frankenstein (one of his favorite characters) and the Phantom of the Opera. The museum's operator talks to him and explains that the rest of the exhibit is the same, just darkened (with spooky music and sounds, which are actually creeping me out a little). He still bulks. But then says he will do it if I go in with him. And then the owner and I spend about 10 minutes trying to get him to go inside the exhibit. And he starts to, then stops. Both the owner and I are very patient, but we can just tell--its not going to happen. My son and I leave...I am a bit tearful, because I know that he is letting his imagination stop him from enjoying something I know he would like, if only he would let himself try to overcome his fear. I tell him nothing of this, I feel that he tried his best and that is fine, I was willing to leave it at that. But he says to me "Mom, are you crying?...Let's go in again--I will do it this time."
And, after a little more hesitation, we do. At first he wants me to hold onto him. But, after a while, he becomes my son again--intrigued by the characters and the movies and the various artifacts. He points out that the music and sounds actually are the worst of it to him, and when he hears a skip in the music, it helps him to understand the artifice of it all. And then we go through the whole exhibit again.
And then he makes his father go with him a third time.
To see more Perfect Moments, click HERE.
7 comments:
I LOVE THIS!
I always read the perfect moments and tear up a bit. That's why I can't do it myself! :)
I loved visiting Salem a few years ago--such a beautiful place--full of history! Glad you had some great moments with your family :)
I'm visiting from Weebles Wobblog to check out your Perfect Moment!
These sound like Perfect Moments to me...and I can relate to both.
I love snuggling with my kids, especially when they slow down a bit. And, I've seen my kids intimidated and then step through their fear. Awesome!
Thank you for sharing your Perfect Moments.
Oh, now I want to go to Salem. Wonder if my kids are up to it.
I love the trust your son placed in you. Wow.
That is amazing Delenn...both moments.
What beautiful moments!
Anything that leads to a sneaky snuggle on the couch is worth it ... even when it comes at the expense of sleep.
My son is a Halloween fanatic as well. We spent the day hoping that one, just one, of the Halloween stores was open. And indeed, after viewing 13 empty stores sporting orange "Open Soon" signs, we were surprised by a store stocked with this year's finest devilish decorations.
'Tis the season.
What a perfect lesson for any of us who need to face our fears.
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