Watching

Today I watched my children.  I watched them play.  I am a stay at home mom so I watch my kids play all day.  Everyday.  But rarely do I sit back and really watch them.  Truth is I'm usually doing things while I'm watching them.  I'm doing laundry, dishes, cleaning, bathing, cooking, and so on that I sometimes miss those moments because I'm caught up in my chores and such.  I'm not oblivious to them or ignoring them.  I'm just multi-tasking which means I'm playing with one hand and doing some chore with the other (or at least thinking of what chores I need to be doing).  But today I sat and watched.  I didn't participate I just simply watched them do their thing.

I watched as they lined cars along my bathroom counter (never-minding how it was going to be all in my way later when I tried to get ready) and then ran from their bedroom back to the bathroom carrying one car at a time to add to the countertop. I watched as Naomi ran as fast as she could to keep up with her older brother.  I watched her little legs run and how awkward, but completely normal her running was.  I even chuckled at it.  I watched as the laughed as they chased one another from room to room only to do it all again until every Hot Wheel and Matchbox car in our house was lined on the bathroom counter, and believe me we have our fair share of cars.  Then I watched Levi's imagination take over as he named the cars and raced them 2 at a time using the big bathtub as a race track.  And then I watched a his little sister mimicked his every sound and movement.  I watched them play and get along.  I watched their imaginations, their learning, and their friendship.

What's even better is that twice during my watching they let me know that they were happy that I was just there.  Each one without prompting and at different times suddenly at some point in their play just to hug me and give me a kiss.  No words were exchanged.  No words were needed.  It was the highlight of my day.  I know my multi-tasking lifestyle will continue because I am a mother and that is what we do, but hopefully I'll try to take a few extra minutes everyday to just let them play and I will watch.  Watch them grow and become the adults I'm praying they become.  I'm always aware that I'm blessed more than I deserve, but today I got a little glimpse firsthand.