Fridays from the Archives – Abandon
This week’s Fridays from the Archives post takes us all the way back to October of 2011. I enjoyed rereading my musing from when my kids were 3 and 5, and the lesson I’d observed then still rings true. When I saw the title of the old post, I thought I was going to have been talking about being abandoned. But no. Not at all. Hope you enjoy the musings of a young mom!
We love to torture our kids. And by
torture I mean tickle them, “eat” them up, chase them around, pretend
our hand is a monster . . . you know. Torture. The sweet kind. I
imagine that’s a fairly universal love of parents the world over, and
it’s no great secret why. We do it because we love to hear that belly
laugh, hear those delighted shrieks of “No, no! Hey, why’d you stop? Do
it again, do it again!” We love to see those huge smiles on their faces.
torture I mean tickle them, “eat” them up, chase them around, pretend
our hand is a monster . . . you know. Torture. The sweet kind. I
imagine that’s a fairly universal love of parents the world over, and
it’s no great secret why. We do it because we love to hear that belly
laugh, hear those delighted shrieks of “No, no! Hey, why’d you stop? Do
it again, do it again!” We love to see those huge smiles on their faces.
We love their abandon.
My hubby will tickle me, too,
but we often get a good laugh out of how he does the same “gobble” to me
he does with the kids, and I just look at him. And usually say, “Um . .
. sorry. I’m not as much fun as the kids, am I?” Which yeah, makes us
chuckle. But it’s not a belly laugh. Those same simple things don’t
result in such instant Joy once we grow up.
but we often get a good laugh out of how he does the same “gobble” to me
he does with the kids, and I just look at him. And usually say, “Um . .
. sorry. I’m not as much fun as the kids, am I?” Which yeah, makes us
chuckle. But it’s not a belly laugh. Those same simple things don’t
result in such instant Joy once we grow up.
Man . . . I sure wish they did!
The abandon of a small child has
its ups and downs. It results in those moments of unbridled bliss, and
it results in equally unbridled fits. Laughter and tears in equal
measures, Joy and frustration, love and rage. I’m sometimes amazed at
how my kids can go from total contentment in their game with each other
to hitting each other and screaming at the top of their lungs, then
straight back to fun.
its ups and downs. It results in those moments of unbridled bliss, and
it results in equally unbridled fits. Laughter and tears in equal
measures, Joy and frustration, love and rage. I’m sometimes amazed at
how my kids can go from total contentment in their game with each other
to hitting each other and screaming at the top of their lungs, then
straight back to fun.
It’s something we learn to control as we grow up, something we teach
those kids to do. Self control is important, especially when it comes
to those negatives. And those who never learn it . . . end up with
reality shows on TV??? đ Seriously, that control is a must, yes.
those kids to do. Self control is important, especially when it comes
to those negatives. And those who never learn it . . . end up with
reality shows on TV??? đ Seriously, that control is a must, yes.
But what are some of your best
moments from adulthood? Are they when you’re sitting there, perfectly
controlled? Are they when you don’t react to something? No–our favorite
moments are the ones where we regain a moment of childhood abandon and
embrace the Joy of life. When we scream our heads off on a roller
coaster. When we laugh until we cry. When we let it all go and just live.
moments from adulthood? Are they when you’re sitting there, perfectly
controlled? Are they when you don’t react to something? No–our favorite
moments are the ones where we regain a moment of childhood abandon and
embrace the Joy of life. When we scream our heads off on a roller
coaster. When we laugh until we cry. When we let it all go and just live.
Sometimes it’s hard to do that,
especially in this stage of my life where I have to keep the Mommy
turned on. Oh, I can laugh with my kids. But I’m also trying to make
sure knees don’t collide with heads as we wrestle, that things tossed up
in Joy come down in one piece. I’m trying to protect and nurture and so
can’t give my full attention to the game. I have to do this. I love to do this.
especially in this stage of my life where I have to keep the Mommy
turned on. Oh, I can laugh with my kids. But I’m also trying to make
sure knees don’t collide with heads as we wrestle, that things tossed up
in Joy come down in one piece. I’m trying to protect and nurture and so
can’t give my full attention to the game. I have to do this. I love to do this.
But sometimes I just wish I could let loose a belly laugh and not care.
And that goes for my prayer life too. That should be the one place I can
let go completely, but even there I’m usually trying to
protect–myself. I find myself praying, “Lord, you know I hope . . . you
know I fear . . . I’m trying not to hope too much because then I fear
I’ll be disappointed . . . I’m trying not to expect disappointment
though because that would be faithless . . . I don’t want to assume your
will . . . I don’t want to miss your will . . .”
let go completely, but even there I’m usually trying to
protect–myself. I find myself praying, “Lord, you know I hope . . . you
know I fear . . . I’m trying not to hope too much because then I fear
I’ll be disappointed . . . I’m trying not to expect disappointment
though because that would be faithless . . . I don’t want to assume your
will . . . I don’t want to miss your will . . .”
But there I need to let go of
the control. With the Lord, I need to be unafraid of the extremes. I
need to show him the highs and the lows. I need to be unafraid of
letting that kid inside me out before my Father.
the control. With the Lord, I need to be unafraid of the extremes. I
need to show him the highs and the lows. I need to be unafraid of
letting that kid inside me out before my Father.
I need to embrace the abandon.
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, sheâs homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her booksâŚto offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.