ah-ha moment

As we speak Connor, age 5, is folding is own laundry in the living room. He loves it, I personally think he is a little strange for loving to fold clothes, but since it makes my job easier I don't knock it. I got him off the bus a few minutes ago and he said to me, "I'm ready to fold." He knew that today is laundry day and there would be a pile waiting for him. I aim to please.

The ah-ha moment happened a couple of weeks ago (during C's Spring Break), that is when I took the pictures above. He was watching me fold clothes and anxious to get in on the action. I was kind of sick of him always being around me and never having a moment alone (it was Spring Break remember) so I tried to kick him out of the room. He has been putting his folded clothes away for months now and recently showed interest in folding, but I wouldn't allow him to touch "my stuff". This particular Spring afternoon, when it was just the two of us, I took a moment, I slowed down and thought about Connor as a person, not just doing the laundry as a process. I let him into my space and my time and enjoyed every second of it. I have this tender feeling inside of me as I type this now. It wasn't a huge deal, it didn't require a whole lot of effort, but what I got out of it changed my outlook on my job as a "parent" and even how I see Connor. We talked one-on-one those few minutes together folding laundry, I taught him a few new things...but he taught me even more. Slow down parents, take the time to enjoy your little crazies, it is so worth it.