Gentle Reminders

Funny how sometimes we get gentle reminders from people or strangers about things that we take for granted.

Last night over dinner, Alvin arrived after a few minutes of starting dinner with the kids. He was asking each one of us as to how our day went. When he asked me how my day was, I didn't reply. Liam told me: "Mama, are you not talking with my Papa? You talk with my Papa." --> a reminder for me than even if I am already dead tired or nothing special happened that day, I should take initiative or do my share of keeping our communication lines open.

Last night, while watching TV, reading a book and using my tablet (I don't know how I was doing it, but I was doing all 3 at the same time) Liam was telling me something. I just kept on nodding my head and saying yeah, until he told me: " Mama, you are not talking with me!" And as if it was not enough, he jumped on my lap, cupped my face into his tiny hands and told me again:"Mama, you are not listening to me!" Ouch! Bulls-eye!Now he really has my full attention! --> We cannot really underestimate the feelings and how intelligent kids are nowadays. Liam knew that even if I was just seated beside him, I was not really with him. A gentle reminder for me that I should spend quality time with my kids, engage and really connect with them, because they will know when I am faking it.

Lastly, just this morning at the shops. A stranger (a grandma), after showing her fondness with Liam and Sam addressed me: "You have beautiful children. Enjoy them now, time flies so quickly. Before you know it, they're out of the house!" Then she said goodbye. Wow. What else can I say? She must be talking from experience. --> A gentle reminder for me to just be patient with the next 4-5 years...that I will have all the "me" time that I need, the "us" time that hubby and I need, the long and uninterrupted sleeps that we wish...to enjoy all the moments that I have with my children now. It's much easier said than done, especially if you don't have helpers or yayas to leave your kids so I can have my day off...but I will try :-)

Funny how God sometimes uses other people to send His message across. Well Lord, thank you for Your gentle reminders :-)