The
Stuff No One Wants to Hear?
I heard
someone say that most people don't really want to hear about your
kids - they don't want to see pictures and will only smile a painted
on smile when you share stories about them.
They
are right to a certain degree, I suppose, but I wonder why a show
like "Kids Say the Darndest Things" was such a hit for
both Art Linkletter and Bill Cosby. Why does Reader's Digest encourage
parents to send in stories of things their children have said or
done that may amuse their readership?
A lot
of it has to do with the fact that we can see either ourselves or
our children in the comments other children say. They can provide
great comic relief when we aren't expecting it, or they can cause
a lump the size of a grapefruit to invade our throats with a few
simple words.
Children
are wise beyond their years and often say things that provide such
clarity of thought. They misunderstand what you say and repeat what
they thought you said and it takes on an entirely new meaning. They
misunderstand the world around them and bravely move on in their
ignorance in a perpetual state of bliss. We can simply watch in
wonder.
I recall
a moment when I was talking to my son about some misbehavior and
he sat with puppy dog eyes as I made my points - hoping the point
was being made. He quietly sat with his hands folded and didn't
say a word. When I finished he looked at me. I expected an apology
- what I got were these six simple words, "But I am adorable,
ain't I?"
If
the moment leading up to this point can be compared to a balloon
being inflated then those simple words released the balloon. After
all - he was adorable.
So,
record those special sayings for yourself and your child. Coffee
table books are filled with these sayings, prayers and jokes and
they draw a nearly audible "Ah," from those who read them.
We forget those moments if they aren't written down, but all are
worth recalling. These special sayings can be incorporated into
the design of a scrapbook or you might consider writing a dictionary
of words your child has either made up or regularly misused and
then provide your child's meaning for the word or phrase.
As
your child grows they will enjoy hearing some of those phrases over
and over as they realize what a big boy or girl they are becoming.
The repeating of their history helps them connect with that history.
As a parent, you are the one best able to help them remember.
