03-24, Every Laugh, Every Life

Treasuring the many moments they’re spending together: Isaiah, Michael, Christopher, Jonathan

While I can’t speak for everyone, if I was honest, I’d have to say my boys often fuss and fight. They complain about who’s had more time on a device. They contend that unfairness abounds from one sibling to another (which usually means, they don’t want the Littles to get more privileges than they do – and they don’t). They get upset over promises broken to one another, and they all feel that they deserve just a little bit more of everything than they already get (although, I’d have to say that’s debatable)!

Nevertheless, this is our second week being altogether while their father is away at work. After the usual sibling rivalry settled down, I observed the most wonderful of things. I noticed – the laughter. The living. The longer conversations as they slowed down to listen and learn from one another. I watched my first grader help my Pre-Ker cut and glue. I witnessed my two teenagers entertain themselves with hilarity that left them doubled over.

I peered around a corner as all four played together without fussing, without fighting, with – consideration – for each brother, as if I was monitoring so they would get along; but, I wasn’t. I am acutely aware that in light of the pandemic, we have all been subconsciously mandated to slow…down – and for children who are immersed, if not consumed, by technology and social media, this can deter the “(digitally) chattiest” among them to pause their popularity for moments of clarity in their own homes.

I am delighted that my little people (though half of them are bigger than me) have started to reconnect in the most loving of ways. I am unhappy about the ill effects of a certain virus (I’m still refusing to type its name – not there yet – yes, I’m pouting). However, I am not unhappy at all about the unintended positive effects: rest, reflection, bonding, caring, playing, reading, crafting, writing, drawing, learning (about one another), connecting, cooking, eating together as families, dreaming, remembering, rekindling, reminding, revering, praying, hoping – loving.

It grieves me when I see my boys be unkind to one another, whether from anger or envy or self-defense. I remind them often that when their father and I are gone, the closest relationships they will have are with one another. I want them to treasure that. As I’ve listened in on the conversations of which I wasn’t involved, my heart has been lifted with their laugher and the knowledge that their lives will never be apart. Of all the silver linings on these clouds of late, this is inevitably among my greatest gifts of all.

#laughingandliving #foreverbonded #unintendedconsequencesthatmakemesmile #fourbrothers #boysmom #ilovetolove #preciousmoments #priceless