Confession: this is a repost. But only because I looked down at my clock, saw it was 8:00 a.m., and realized with a start that it’s THURSDAY. Yikes! Need a blog post, stat!!! LOL. So forgive me. And enjoy. 😉
~*~
We love to torture our kids. And by
torture I mean tickle them, “eat” them up, chase them around, pretend
our hand is a monster . . . you know. Torture. The sweet kind. I
imagine that’s a fairly universal love of parents the world over, and
it’s no great secret why. We do it because we love to hear that belly
laugh, hear those delighted shrieks of “No, no! Hey, why’d you stop? Do
it again, do it again!” We love to see those huge smiles on their faces.
torture I mean tickle them, “eat” them up, chase them around, pretend
our hand is a monster . . . you know. Torture. The sweet kind. I
imagine that’s a fairly universal love of parents the world over, and
it’s no great secret why. We do it because we love to hear that belly
laugh, hear those delighted shrieks of “No, no! Hey, why’d you stop? Do
it again, do it again!” We love to see those huge smiles on their faces.
We love their abandon.
My
hubby will tickle me, too, but we often get a good laugh out of how he
does the same “gobble” to me he does with the kids, and I just look at
him. And usually say, “Um . . . sorry. I’m not as much fun as the kids,
am I?” Which yeah, makes us chuckle. But it’s not a belly laugh. Those
same simple things don’t result in such instant Joy once we grow up.
hubby will tickle me, too, but we often get a good laugh out of how he
does the same “gobble” to me he does with the kids, and I just look at
him. And usually say, “Um . . . sorry. I’m not as much fun as the kids,
am I?” Which yeah, makes us chuckle. But it’s not a belly laugh. Those
same simple things don’t result in such instant Joy once we grow up.
Man . . . I sure wish they did!
The
abandon of a small child has its ups and downs. It results in those
moments of unbridled bliss, and it results in equally unbridled fits.
Laughter and tears in equal measures, Joy and frustration, love and
rage. I’m sometimes amazed at how my kids can go from total contentment
in their game with each other to hitting each other and screaming at the
top of their lungs, then straight back to fun.
abandon of a small child has its ups and downs. It results in those
moments of unbridled bliss, and it results in equally unbridled fits.
Laughter and tears in equal measures, Joy and frustration, love and
rage. I’m sometimes amazed at how my kids can go from total contentment
in their game with each other to hitting each other and screaming at the
top of their lungs, then straight back to fun.
It’s something we learn to control as we grow up, something we teach
those kids to do. Self control is important, especially when it comes
to those negatives. And those who never learn it . . . end up with
reality shows on TV??? 😉 Seriously, that control is a must, yes.
those kids to do. Self control is important, especially when it comes
to those negatives. And those who never learn it . . . end up with
reality shows on TV??? 😉 Seriously, that control is a must, yes.
But
what are some of your best moments from adulthood? Are they when you’re
sitting there, perfectly controlled? Are they when you don’t react to
something? No–our favorite moments are the ones where we regain a
moment of childhood abandon and embrace the Joy of life. When we scream
our heads off on a roller coaster. When we laugh until we cry. When we
let it all go and just live.
what are some of your best moments from adulthood? Are they when you’re
sitting there, perfectly controlled? Are they when you don’t react to
something? No–our favorite moments are the ones where we regain a
moment of childhood abandon and embrace the Joy of life. When we scream
our heads off on a roller coaster. When we laugh until we cry. When we
let it all go and just live.
Sometimes
it’s hard to do that, especially in this stage of my life where I have
to keep the Mommy turned on. Oh, I can laugh with my kids. But I’m also
trying to make sure knees don’t collide with heads as we wrestle, that
things tossed up in Joy come down in one piece. I’m trying to protect
and nurture and so can’t give my full attention to the game. I have to do this. I love to do this.
it’s hard to do that, especially in this stage of my life where I have
to keep the Mommy turned on. Oh, I can laugh with my kids. But I’m also
trying to make sure knees don’t collide with heads as we wrestle, that
things tossed up in Joy come down in one piece. I’m trying to protect
and nurture and so can’t give my full attention to the game. I have to do this. I love to do this.
But sometimes I just wish I could let loose a belly laugh and not care.
And that goes for my prayer life too. That should be the one place I can
let go completely, but even there I’m usually trying to
protect–myself. I find myself praying, “Lord, you know I hope . . . you
know I fear . . . I’m trying not to hope too much because then I fear
I’ll be disappointed . . . I’m trying not to expect disappointment
though because that would be faithless . . . I don’t want to assume your
will . . . I don’t want to miss your will . . .”
let go completely, but even there I’m usually trying to
protect–myself. I find myself praying, “Lord, you know I hope . . . you
know I fear . . . I’m trying not to hope too much because then I fear
I’ll be disappointed . . . I’m trying not to expect disappointment
though because that would be faithless . . . I don’t want to assume your
will . . . I don’t want to miss your will . . .”
But
there I need to let go of the control. With the Lord, I need to be
unafraid of the extremes. I need to show him the highs and the lows. I
need to be unafraid of letting that kid inside me out before my Father.
there I need to let go of the control. With the Lord, I need to be
unafraid of the extremes. I need to show him the highs and the lows. I
need to be unafraid of letting that kid inside me out before my Father.
I need to embrace the abandon.
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.
Sure, we need to be mature adults. But what's wrong with having a little fun, too? 🙂 It's that childlike quality I strive for, yet retain maturity at the same time. It's a fine line to toe, but it can be done, I believe.
Blessings,
Andrea
It might have been a repost but it was a good repost. 🙂