Measuring Up

I have noticed lately that glass-half full type people really seem to enjoy my son. One of our new friends described him as “Tigger”. What an appropriate comparison. Evan is indeed Bouncy bouncy bouncy bouncy and fun fun fun fun fun! Which is wonderful, unless you are a bit of an Eeyore.

As his mother, I must admit, I am a bit of an Eeyore. At times I am prone to sulleness and depression and negativity. I can be a glass-half empty type. It’s not that I don’t enjoy a good romp, but solitude feeds my spirit and my eldest son, for some reason, is anything but quiet! When Evan began enthusiastically remarking about his steady growth... first into my shoes and then toward my eyeballs, I thought I would kill him first!........nah...... But those of you with overly happy and confident children who prefer peace and quiet know what I mean. His excitement was irrepressible. My sense of dread was foreboding.

In response to what I perceived would be months of relentless comparisons, I cleverly devised a way of reinforcing his enthusiasm without allowing him to drive me nuts daily wanting to “measure” himself against me. So, we began taking the monthly photograph. I am so glad we did because I have a record now, of how fast my little Tigger has grown and how few days I have left before his bouncy demeanor and fun spirit will bounce right out my door and into the 100 acre world.

My prayer is that I won’t take one moment for granted
that I’ll cherish every embrace
that I’ll slow down enough to listen
that I’ll memorize his face

The way I did when he was new
when I held him all day long
when I listened to him breathing
when his life became a song

His life made me a mommy
he made motherhood begin
he made me a different person
he made me better than I’d have been

My prayer is that our future
will be rich and fun and good
we’ll spend years climbing mountains
together and for God’s good

When this season passes
when I’m nearing my earthly end
when I see his brown eyes look on me
I’ll see in his face a friend

A friend whose cheerful countenance
will bring comfort and joy and pride
when I think of all the bouncy days
we’ll have on the other side