2010 January

Jan 4, 2010

What’s That Face?

L. (3) is often concerned with how I am feeling.

For example, though he seems to have no problem whatsoever with disobeying and defying me multiple times per hour, he would prefer for me to remain perpetually “Happy.” (And, when I appear to be not-so-happy — such as when I discipline him for the aforementioned disobedience and defiance — he’s been know to scream at the top of his lungs, “Happy Mommy! Happy Mommy! I need Happy Mommy!” Charming.)

I guess he’s figured out that the old adage is true: If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. And he prefers the happy.

Sometimes, however, my facial expression does not conclusively reveal my inner emotions, and L. is forced to ask me exactly what it is that I’m feeling. About six months ago, he started asking me, “Mommy, what does your face say?” which was his way of asking what feelings he should associate with my current expression.

Cute, yes. And hey — a boy who knows how to ask someone what they’re feeling — that’s a skill that could come in handy when he’s married, if he can hold on to it. So I’ve encouraged him by always answering this question.

Over the months, he’s changed his question, and now he often looks at me searchingly and says, “What’s that face?” To which I reply, “It’s my ‘I’m happy’ face” or “It’s my ‘I’m hungry’ face” or any other of a number of responses.

The other day, L. called me from his room during his “quiet” play time because he had to use the bathroom. I’ve been sick for over a week and so I half-stumbled to his bedroom to escort him.

He took one look at me and said, “What’s that face, Mommy?”

“Oh, it’s just my ‘I’m very tired’ face, buddy.”

Then I turned it around on him. “How about you, L.? What face do you have?”

To which he answered: “Oh, it’s just my ‘I have to poop’ face.”

Needless to say, I got him to the bathroom immediately.

And I’m not sure if I’ll be asking that question again.

Filed Under: Family 15 Comments

Jan 2, 2010

It’s January! Hooray!

written by katrina · 7 Comments

L. (3) was happily playing with Legos yesterday morning. He received a Lego fire station set for Christmas and has spent a good portion of the last week creating everything but a fire station with it. In fact, whenever I’ve attempted to help him turn the pile of Legos into the item pictured on the box, I’ve been immediately reprimanded and told I’m doing it wrong.

Confession: This drives me a bit crazy. I’m of the belief that one should follow the rules, especially when it comes to building cool Lego sets. But clearly, my second-born child disagrees with that belief.

Anyway, as I watched, L. picked up his Legos and started walking toward the kitchen in a dazed, out-of-it kind of way, staring up somewhere around the level of the upper cupboards. He wandered past the breakfast table, around the edge of the counter, and across the kitchen. It was almost as if an invisible string were pulling him along.

Just as I figured out what he was looking at and being drawn inexorably toward (the new calendar on the wall), he started jumping up and down — literally — with joy.

“It’s January! Hooray! January! Hooray! January! Hooray! It’s January!! Hooray!!!”

Chad and I cracked up. Here was a three-year-old who recognized that there was a new calendar on the wall, who figured out that the big “J-word” on it was “January,” and who was now overwhelmed with excitement at the fact that a new year had arrived.

Even after the jumping stopped, L. had a huge smile on his face and was, without a doubt, overjoyed.

Confession #2: I knew why he was so excited.

We have some fun things planned in the month of January, and L. has known about them for several weeks. Ever since somewhere around December 12th, he’s been asking me, “Is it January yet?” and “Why is December going on for so long?” So today, when he realized that finally, finally December was over and January had arrived, he simply couldn’t contain his glee.

I loved seeing L. so excited — what mom doesn’t enjoy seeing her child incredibly happy?

But the whole situation also made me think about the ways we, as adults, face a new year.

Some people are so glad when January arrives because the previous year was miserable, or difficult, or painful, or stressful…and they are thrilled to see it finally go away. Eager for a fresh start, they welcome January with open arms.

Others are excited to see January on the calendar because the new year holds promise — a new baby scheduled to arrive, a long-anticipated trip, the completion of a project or realization of a dream.

Some are indifferent, seeing nothing to celebrate or enjoy about a new year…just more of the same of what the last year held.

Some look wistfully back at the just-passed year, not quite ready to let it go.

As for me, I often approach a new year with some mixed feelings.

January, in general, is not my favorite month. Where we live, the weather is usually bleak — gray, cold, dreary…no sun for days or weeks at a time. I don’t like it and don’t particularly look forward to it. The holidays infuse excitement and fun and variety into December, while January often feels….blah.

On the other hand, I appreciate the promise of a new calendar year. There’s always a feeling of new beginnings, new opportunities…a sense of anticipation for what the new year will hold.

And this year, I’m struck hard with the comforting thought that regardless of what this year holds — January bleakness? Exciting new opportunities? Heartache? Joy? — that God already knows, and that He is ever working to accomplish His purposes.

Many are the plans in a man’s heart,
but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

- Proverbs 19:21

See, I’m often tempted to have “many plans” in my heart. As with L.’s Lego fire station, I have very clear ideas on how I think things should go and how they should work out. But, of course, I am limited in my perspective, lacking in wisdom, and often selfish in motivation. So my many plans? Let’s just say that I’m thankful they don’t always come to pass!

But with the reminder that God holds the year 2010, and knowing that He is good and loving and in control, I can look at the coming year with excitement. Maybe I won’t jump up and down in the kitchen, but I can echo L.’s sentiment: “It’s January! Hooray!”