“A hug is like a boomerang
– you get it back right away.” ~Bil Keane
I knew it was going to be
an interesting day when I slept through two alarms (two!), was awakened at 5:30 a.m. by a phone call from a student, and discovered my
skirt tucked into my panties after I left the house. (At least I was still in my yard when I
discovered my wardrobe malfunction. Can
you imagine the horror of being seen like that?
Or – even worse – the horror of seeing it?! Thank goodness is was still dark out!)
It was clear to me from
the time my feet hit the floor this morning that the word of the day was
“flexibility.” So I decided right then
to roll with whatever came my way, addressing each situation with as positive an
attitude as I could authentically maintain, and holding onto the belief that
everything would work out the way it was intended.
(Honestly, I can’t help
but laugh at myself as I read what I just wrote because that’s a concept right
in front of me most days dealing with kiddo; yet I’m often gnashing my teeth
about all of the curve balls he throws my way.
For whatever reason, today I was able to roll with it. So I’m going to put one in the “win” column
for myself and refer back to it on the days when things aren’t going so
smoothly.)
Anyway…
Somehow, I managed to handle
everything I had planned for today, and address all of the unexpected items
that came my way, still feeling very even and balanced by the time all was said
and done. Admittedly, though, I was exhausted
by the time I left work and drove the forty-ish-minute commute home to relieve
my mother from babysitting kiddo by late afternoon.
And, I’ll tell you what…I
don’t care how long my day has been, nor how challenging things may have seemed
from moment to moment… there is no sweeter sound than hearing kiddo proclaim,
“Hi, Mom!” as he barrels around the corner of the kitchen and attaches himself
to my front like a starfish that will never let go.
I love that he reminds me
of what is truly important, in the spur-of-the-moment way he has of doing
everything. His joy is pure and his love
is transparent; he has no agenda – just the need to touch and be touched. I feel so blessed that no matter what his
day has been like, the first thing he wants to do is hug me. I don’t think we let go for a full minute. What in the world could be better than that?!
I love those hugs. My nephew was in a car accident before he was one, he had a blunt head trauma which has resulted in a lot of challenges for him. He is 13 now. We had a birthday party last weekend where we went bowling and Jason gave a celebratory hug to another attendee who bowled a good frame just after having a breakdown because she wasn't winning. She misread it as 'he liked her'. It had to be explained that no, that wasn't the case, he just likes to celebrate with you, he likes a good hug, he will tell anyone his story. And I don't know if kiddo has it, but he also seems to have a sixth sense of knowing when you need a hug, and gives a good one.
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