The other night the kids and I were riding home from my parents' house, after dinner. We had my ipod plugged in and were jamming to various songs along the way. The song "Hot Dog" by They Might Be Giants came on (some of you may recognize it as the closing credits song for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse), and it is a favorite of both kids. Usually they sing along, but this time the reaction was a bit different. As soon as the song came on, Deacon burst out into a big smile and said something along the lines of "Dog!" (He's not much of a talker...yet.) Then he started clapping. It was so cute. And it seemed like such pure, innocent happiness that you couldn't help but smile while watching him. (Why watch the road when you can watch your baby jammin' in the backseat?)
Wyatt's reaction was different, though. He was full-on pouting and sometimes crying. He had gotten in trouble at Granns' house for calling his mama a not-nice name, and hence he lost the lollipop that had been promised him. He was angry at me. When Hot Dog came on, I noticed him stifle a smile. You could tell he wanted to clap along with Deacon but he didn't want to give up the crying/pouting routine, in case it somehow worked out that he might just yet get that lollipop.
Somewhere between Wyatt's almost four years of life and Deacon's almost two years, some innocence has been lost. Wyatt's learned to manipulate and to project an outward image that may be different than what he's feeling on the inside. The "twos" are hard, surely, but there's still an innocence that is heartwarming and refreshing. There's innocence at four, too, but it's different and maybe a little muted. I can only imagine how things will change as they grow older.
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Random but Inspired
About Me
- MSG
- Orange Park, Florida
- A stay-at-home mom who works harder now than she ever did when she was getting a paycheck, and who's questioning whether she's any good at this stay-at-home stuff.
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My goal is to become a Proverbs 31 woman...definitely not there yet but with God's grace, maybe
Proverbs 31:10-31
10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
2 comments:
Hmm. Now that's something I hadn't thought about. A very interesting observation, and what's more interesting is the question, where did Wyatt learn that from? It's sort of cliched to say children learn how to lie and manipulate by watching adults, but really, that implies kids are capable of recognizing when adults lie or manipulate before they're capable of doing that themselves. But how do they do that? Children learn how to act not just by watching adults, but by watching the way adults react to them. Wyatt's learned that by acting a certain way, he can get a certain thing to happen--so he might act that way at times even when he doesn't really feel that way. Do children learn that by watching adults' examples, or do they learn it the way they learn everything else--by trying something and seeing what happens? In those two years between Wyatt and Deacon, Wyatt's either watched his parents and other adults manipulating and lying and decided that's the normal way of things (kind of a stretch) or he's figured out on his own that lying and manipulating can sometimes get him what he wants.
I suspect the latter. Maybe kids don't really lose their innocence; maybe they just leave it behind.
I hope it's the second option instead of the first, for obvious reasons. Although Luke can testify that I do tend to pout a bit when I don't get my way, and I suppose pouting can be a form of manipulation. Geez...the things we teach our kids!
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