Two Legs Better

Son No 3 officially became a toddler just before his 1st birthday. He had been cruising along the walls and furniture for a while and the final impetus for him to became a bipedal man was securing a crust of toast from an elder brother. He could not crawl whilst clutching the tempting morsel of peanut butter encrusted wholemeal toast so he stood up and walked (wobbled) over to the corner to rapturous applause as if he had just won the 100m. In his world, he did and I felt just as proud of him.

He looked like an early hominid discovering that opposable thumbs allowed him to carry things as long as he walked: "Four legs good, two legs better," declared the Orwellian pigs. And now he does not stop. He is eating more and sleeping all night. It is nice to go to sleep not expecting to wake until morning. Or it would be if it were not for son No 2 who had a bad dream and No 1 who got his legs twisted in the duvet causing a panic attack.

"Daaaddy," they shout without concern for their weary father. And I respond like a faithful labrador because that smile of appreciation in the dark is like the kiss of an angel. I'm their dad; I hope they always need me so.

CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE

I took my three young sons to church on Sunday for some rare exposure to spiritual meaning. The 4.5YO, spent the whole service counting things and writing the numbers down, the 3.5YO put his head on my lap and went to sleep and the 1YO, who is just learning to walk, clambered all over shouting at everyone. The padre is very patient, almost indulgent, and seems to feel that my boys have some hope (in the spritual sense) simply because I managed to get them to church!

It was Mothers' Day and so his sermon focussed on that. He used the poem below to preach from. Apparently it was the mantra of parents in the states in the latter half of C20. I thnk it's brilliant and keeping it in mind helps me be less critical and more positive in dealing with the chaos of 3 under 5YOs.

CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE
Dorothy Law Nolte
(Adapted)

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight
If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty
If children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence
If children live with praise, they learn to appreciate.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice
If children live with security, they learn to have faith
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves
If children live with acceptance and friendship,
They learn to find love in the world