You just can't help but be helped by Brayden John. If there's not a situation that demands his assistance, he'll create one. Since he was a very small boy, he's had one major ambition: helping people. Nurturing people. He's the one who wants to climb in our bed every morning. And he'll reach over and gently massage and rub my arm, then Justin's. "Does that feel good?"
He remembers every piece of advice we've ever given him, especially those parent-phrases that are designed to keep children from harm. Such as "don't chew with your mouth full" or "eat slowly and chew your food well".
Then, that advice backfires on you.
Like the day I sat down on the couch, pulled up a pant leg and feverishly scratched a mosquito bite. I felt someone watching me and looked over to meet the disapproving gaze of Brayden.
"You shouldn't scratch, mommy. It will just make things worse."
Duly noted.
Brayden reminds me of Scarlett O'Hara. My favorite character, from my favorite movie. She said things like, "Great balls of fire" and one of
her husbands said about her "She can get mad quicker than any woman I ever saw."
That's our little Brayden. Sweet as pie, voice like honey, the most precious smile and could kill you with kindness. And in the next breath, he's furious with you and everyone else in the room.
Like the other day, Brayden lost his temper with his brother (after several days of great behavior) so we were sitting on the floor of his room talking about his choices and he hung his shoulders and said in the smallest voice, "Just, I'm trying not to make the devil happy!"
(That sweet little phrase must have come from one of our discussions about pleasing God by our behavior.)
But this sweet story is all Brayden. He absolutely loves to ride with his window down. He asks me all the time, and lately my answer has been no a lot more often (too cold. too rainy). But one day I got to say yes, and I could see his happy little face in my rear view mirror as he shouted out the window,
"Hey, moo cows! Hey!"
(Then speaking in a softer voice to me) And what is that guy called?"
That guy would be a donkey.
#ohhoney
No comments:
Post a Comment