For quite some time I've wanted to write about two phrases my children say to me daily. If at any time I go to sit down in my home, within minutes one of my kids are at my side asking to "sit on me." They want to cuddle, tickle, giggle, talk or play games like "can you feel this?" where we close our eyes and gently touch places on each other's face trying to identify where the other touched them. When the kids were babies and toddlers of course they sat on my lap but now they are older and it's just not too comfortable for Mommy anymore! I've tried every excuse to get them off my lap. And why do they never do this with their Dad? I'm at a loss. It seems mean to say "no" and they are so sad the few times that I've held firm (like tonight because I've been battling a cold). Though my daughter says she plans to sit on my until she is 18, I know that the moments this activity brings are fleeting. But seriously, how long can it go on for? How long should I let it? I was at my in-laws over Christmas and my daughter flung herself into my lap and it felt almost embarrassing to have this larger child smothering my space. My Husband says "kick them off." Secretly, I love it-well, except when one of their elbow digs into my stomach.
The other phrase I hear daily or mostly nightly is "Mommy will you lay with me?" We rarely co-slept with our kids though we often took naps with them when they were little. I'm not sure when the request to lay with them began but it seems like its been a request for years. There is no other phrase that pulls at my heart strings more than this one and my kids know they have me wrapped around their fingers at the mere utterance of these words. Why am I such a sucker for them? I think it's part of a Mother's nature to revel in the smell of her babies. My kids are so soft and smell so good. They both love to cuddle and whisper secrets or play with their stuffed animals or gossip about school friends. When we lay together Mommy shares her childhood stories or we make up stories or dream about the future. There is something special about laying next to one another in the dark, hearing each other's voices, feeling each other's touch, but not seeing the other's expressions. I love them and love spending time with them. I have fond memories of laying in bed with my Mom, talking, watching TV, Mom running her fingers through my hair as she talked on the phone. I also have (often) unjustified fears that cause me to (over) value every moment they want or need me. What if something happens to me? One of their last memories would be the time we spent laying together. What if something happen to them? Then I would know they felt loved.
How about you? What do your kids say/do to tug at your heart strings?
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