Melting moments....

Around here I seem to be watching the clock all the time... mentally calculating how many mintues we have left before an activity will end in tantrums/ fights/ tears/ injury/ Mum loses patience/ someone gets sent to their room etc. etc. And then there's a moment. It comes so uexpectedly and yet in perfect timing. When your heart melts, and a big smile spreads across your face subconsiously. All menial tasks are forgotten and you see nothing but that moment. The heart strings tighten and a little lump forms in your throat. For just a few seconds you forget the 2litres of milk someone spilt all over the floor that morning right after you mopped, and you forget that you've just battled with a child for 15minutes over getting dressed and there were tears, tantrums and yelling from everybody involved. For just a few seconds, you remember why you love them. For a few seconds you may even yearn for another newborn. I had a moment like that today. I was trying to prepare dinner and Hayden had been following me around for the last 45mins whinging and clinging to my legs begging to be picked up. You get the picture - he wanted nothing but to be held. I'd put off dinner long enough and it had to be done. Then in wanders Lachlan asking to do craft. "Great!" I say. Let's do drawing so I set them up at the table with felt pens, and Hayden in his highchair too. No more than 5 seconds into my plan than Hayden is sucking the pens. Out come the pencils - but no, they taste great too. In the end I'd taken everything off him. Then began the crying from Hayden, the thrusting to try and escape from the highchair - but to no avail. His mean mother had strapped him in and was getting no symphony from me. Then pipes up Lachlan: "Hayden it's ok. (In this lovely sweet, caring voice). "I'm here. I'll help you". He goes over and pats his head. Then he returns to his seat. "Can you see me cutting Hayden? I'm good at cutting. I'm a big boy". Hayden begins crying again. "Oh, Hayden don't cry, it's ok. Mummy will be here in a minute to get you out. You're ok". Then Lachlan goes over and asks him if he wants a drink. He gives him a cup, waits while Hayden drinks, then takes it back and places it on the bench then goes and begins a game of tickling. In a matter of a few short seconds, Lachlan had reversed Hayden's crying into laughing. I was so very proud of him. For most of today Lachlan had been fighting with Hayden and pushing him away from playing with him. Then out comes this! They will no doubt fight an awful lot in their lives as young boys, but there's a bond there. There's a love there and I hope that I can foster it and help them to grow closer and become friends they will rely on as they grow into teenagers and missionaries and fathers themselves. A few short minutes made my day and I love them dearly - for all of their moments, even the spilt milk.....

This picture was taken when Hayden was just 1 week old. Lachlan was not quite 2.