Sometimes, I sort of miss the baby. I miss being able to pick him up and nuzzle his cheeks and carry him around. I miss holding him while he slept. I miss being able to catch up to him, when he was toddling away and all I had to do was walk fast. Those days are long gone.
Instead, I get to listen to him read books. He can walk on the treadmill. I insist that I stand behind him, with my feet on the edges, while he walks, but he can hold on by himself. I get to paint with him, because he still would rather paint with company, instead of painting alone.
-
- Two-year-old Peter on the treadmill
-
- Three-year-old Peter on the treadmill
-
- Four-year-old Peter
-
- He can work a jigsaw puzzle, all by himself.
-
- He is tall enough to see the Meerkats at the zoo, without having to be held up by a grownup.
-
- And he is brave enough to go down the treehouse slide at the zoo’s playground.
-
- We were halfway to church on Easter Sunday morning when I remembered that I’d forgotten to cut some daisies to bring.
-
- So we turned around and went back to get them. Peter helped put them on a cross for our worship service.
-
- After church, we took a picnic lunch to the park across the street from church. They have a nice new playground. (I believe David and Peter are piloting a plane.) Then we went on to Kiddieland.
-
- When he rode the boats at Kiddieland, he was much more at ease, as opposed to the previous time, when, even though he smiled at us as he floated by, he was clutching the boat’s edges, as though for dear life.
-
- Then he said, “I want to ride that!” It’s a very small Ferris Wheel, but it *is* a Ferris Wheel. We were surprised and he was unafraid.
-
- “How far can you see, way up there?!?” A little ways away.
-
- And he still enjoys playing in the cars, even if we don’t put money in them.
-
- He can swing himself on the big swings at the Magnolia Silos …
-
- and it’s even more fun with his grown-up cousin, Natalie, from Seattle.
-
- And, as many kids do, he’s fond of jumping on bubble wrap.
-
- But even big kids get worn out, and need a nap, wherever they happen to be.
Train children in the right way,
and when old, they will not stray.
Proverbs 22:6 (New Revised Standard Version)
I once heard Charles Swindoll talk about this verse. He said that adults often approach these words as meaning that they are the ones who decide a child’s “way.” Instead, he said, our job is to be with our children, study our children, appreciate our children’s abilities, and help them become the people that God means them to be. If a parent has always dreamed of having physician in the family, then it might be hard to accept a teacher or writer or businessperson. Between home and school and church, children need to have all sorts of experiences to help them discover what interests them, what challenges them, what intrigues them. It’s a joint effort.
Meanwhile, if the thunderstorms forecast for Friday morning don’t materialize, Peter and I are going to put on our overalls and do a little yard work (in case Peter decides on horticulture).
This makes me happy for you.
You’re happy. We’re happy. It’s a win-win, isn’t it. We so enjoyed spending time with Natalie. I wish she came more often.
Everyone is blessed by yours and David’s relationship with Peter! love to all, Suzy
Thanks, and love to you, too.