What would you say is the “best” part of parenting for you?
I love the snuggles from my boys. I love spending time with them. I love the joy on their faces and their laughs.
But the best part for me?
The “inch stones.”
What do I mean?
Yesterday, Jonah came up to me and pointed at his basket of blocks. A big smile on his face.
I can’t help smiling back. Jonah’s smile is infectious. It doesn’t matter how sad/depressed/upset I am, as soon as Jojo flashes that dimple and toothy grin, my mood is instantly better.
But this time I’m smiling back for more than just that.
Two years ago, this would have been a huge victory in and of itself. Jonah would not point to objects or follow a point to an object.
A small part of me reflects on each step of our journey and how far we have come.
But the larger part of me is smiling with pride.
Jonah has cleaned all the blocks up in his playroom, without being asked, and he wants me to see what a great job he has done.
And it IS a great job, y’all.
He is so proud of himself.
I am so proud of him.
Today was also Jonny’s last day at Awana. He really wanted to finish the section he was on so he could earn his section award.
He needed to finish a few more chapters in his book before completing the section.
They were all chapters he had skipped because they were writing intensive and he wold much rather just memorize verses.
Jony has a lot of trouble with writing. He has low muscle tone and poor grip strength so writing neatly is a challenge for him. He’s been working with an OT since he was 3.
Last year he had a meltdown in the middle of Awana class because the writing section of one chapter was too intense for him, and he was afraid he wouldn’t finish in time. His anxiety was crippling for him and we ended up just having to “try again later.”
This time, Jonny had to also read the verses, and then write about what he read.
He didn’t think he could even finish the first chapter. He had just under an hour and I couldn’t help him much. (I am a table leader so I am helping all the kids at the table)
But he stuck with it.
And guess what?
Jonny did both the reading AND writing of not one, but ALL THREE chapters/sections just like the one he had a meltdown about last year.
And he did a great job.
He was so proud of himself.
I am so proud of him.
That right there. That’s the good stuff. Seeing all those small victories. Seeing the fruit of all the hard work.
They are not “mile stones” per say, but they are “inch stones.” Small victories.
Watching the boys develop, ESPECIALLY when that development is not guaranteed, is THE BEST PART of my parenting for me.
#AllVictories