The Boy and I enjoy our car rides.
We love listening to books on CD and the “oldies” stations. Of course, when I refer to oldies, I mean the Temptations or Diana Ross. The Boy thinks the term means Michael Jackson.
Ugh.
Last week we were singing along, and he decided–in his usual directorial fashion–that I would sing all the girl songs and he would cover anything by a boy, which seemed like a fine enough plan. Only problem:
I can’t sing.
{A fact uncovered by the great Fast Car fiasco of 1995, but that’s another story for another time.}
After he made that declaration, we endured a few commercials and then the first wispy notes of the next song began to play. I was hoping for something easy like Mustang Sally; what I got was Pat Benatar’s We Belong.
I felt so badly for my son’s poor ears, but being a child of the ’80s, I knew every word, and I sang it ’til the very end, while in the backseat he pretended to be strumming along on a guitar.
When it was over, he looked up at me, smiled so sincerely and said,
You sing beautiful, Mama.
I smiled back at him and gave him a big Thank you, Bug, while my heart dissolved into one big pile of sugar.
He meant it.
And it just made me think:
Our little ones … we are such heroes in their eyes. If we can bounce a ball, we’re pro basketball players; if we can solve a math problem, we’ve got a doctorate; if we can string a few words together, we’re a writer; and if all we do is remember the lyrics to a song of our youth,
we’re a chanteuse.
There’s so much love in their little bodies.
So while we’re sweating whether our parenting skills pass the muster, let’s just remember that they cover us in so much grace that our minor faults go unnoticed.
We’ll never be perfect parents. Some days we’ll hit every note, and some days, impatience, frustration, fear, whatever, will keep us completely off-key.
But let’s always, always strive to be the best we can for them. Let’s earn that precious, you-sing-beautiful-mama love.
Linking up today with Mingle Monday at Life of Meg and The GFC Collective at Antlers & Roses.
Today is Much Ado Monday at this little light. Take a moment to follow TLL {if you don’t already}, link up your family-friendly post, and make a few new friends {don’t forget to let them know you stopped by by commenting … and if you receive a note, please return the favor}!
Please also be sure to link back to TLL in your post. I’ll work on getting the code so by next week, you’ll be able to place it in your post or sidebar if you’d like.
love it! reminds me of what I thought when we brought our first little one home. I figured he didn’t know any better than I did what we “should” be doing as mom and son, so we’d make our way together. You sing beautiful Mama, oh. Of course you do
sarah @sundayspill just wrote this gem …the sunday spill–it starts with a misplaced shoe
Oh how I love this!! SO precious and SO inspiring to remember and realize how much our children look up to us, love us UNCONDITIONALLY and always place value on everything we do… Such a perfect story and powerful message Michelle.
Chris Carter just wrote this gem …Natural Childbirth…
They are so precious, Chris … we can feel absolutely flawed and useless, and they think we hung the moon. Ah, love.
Singing in the car is a favorite pastime around here, too (as are books on CD). Kiddos have a way of making everything crystal clear, don’t they? We worry about our ability to sing, they rarely stop to think about such things. As a fellow product of the 80s, sing Pat loud and proud.
Sarah just wrote this gem …It’s Monday Already?
There WAS a time, Sarah, when I thought I hit each of those airy notes perfectly! I know better now, but thanks to my willing audience, I’m still allowed to enjoy how good it feels to sing out loud!
Love this Michelle!
emily@ CoupleJones.com just wrote this gem …DIY Vintage Pyrex Candle Love
Thank you, Emily … my fellow Pyrex fanatic!
What a beautiful story. Yes, we are truly heroes in their eyes, in whatever that we do. I am your newest subscriber!
Vickie
Ohabbyday.blogspot.com
Vickie, thank you so much for following along … so happy to have you here!
I sing to my little boy every night and I know I am horribly off key and it sounds awful to me. But his face breaks into a smile and stays that way through the whole song, every time. Such an important gift, the adoration of our children. Yes – let’s always strive to be our very best for them.
Tricia just wrote this gem …3 words – month 1
Let’s enjoy this now, Tricia … I think it changes once they’re teens!
Thank you for such a beautiful reminder to appreciate and acknowledge the small…small ones we love and care for, small lovelies we might otherwise pass by without notice (the quiet hush as snow falls, tiny water droplets all over a cat’s nose and chin after he’s been drinking from a trickle at the faucet, a smile from a stranger we’ve smiled at, and yes! the joy of singing silly, made up lyrics to a song on the radio, the true lyrics of which can never be ascertained or agreed upon by my two teens and myself, and the laughter that results from it. My two are nearly 17 and 15 1/4, so not so complimentary as your little Bug, but I guess that comes with the territory of getting older and our kids doing the same. I feel a little tug, faintly reminiscent of those much younger days when little hands held mine and we snuggled before bedtime every night, each time my kids hug me or thank me now. The love’s the same, just wrapped a little differently than before; still there, still a gift.
I so so so love that photo of you two! Precious! And I love how a child’s love and grace covers so much. No wonder Christ called us to be like little children.
Rach just wrote this gem …Girls’ Conference!
This post is beautiful. I try and remind myself to see myself through my child’s eyes and His eyes instead of the worlds
You are an amazing writer.
Ashley Ditto just wrote this gem …A Very Merry Birthday
Michelle, once again, I am in awe of your writing and your thoughts! So very true and so very forgotten at times. Some extra hugs and kisses are going to be given to my little and not-so-little bugs tonight! Thank you, thank you sweetie! xoxo
I absolutely love this. May we all see ourselves as kids do. They’re onto something.
Amy just wrote this gem …Vicks.
Ava is beside me and said he is “so coot”. Or so cute. Whichever.
This is SO true. It doesn’t matter how you sound, just sing! I love to sing to my children. And read stories. They remember…I’ve confirmed it. xo
Susan just wrote this gem …Royale Golden Kittens Blog Tour
thank goodness for there sweetness and honesty! my daughter loves Micheal Jackson. lol
Ugggh. * their. not there. lol.
christina just wrote this gem …this weekend.
This made my heart sing, you have such a sweet boy and such a special relationship. I hope to have the same relationship with my little ones someday and have your blog posts to remind myself what a blessing it is, each and every day!