The pitter-patter of little feet...following mine...

Today I cleaned up my baby's room and packed away a bunch of way-to-small clothes.  *Sigh*  Why is it that a mother's heart has such a paradox of desiring growth and yet missing the tiny infant?  Why is it so hard to pack away those clothes when I want more then anything for my boy to grow into a man?

Why?  I don't know why.  It is simply the way the world turns.  Whether it is the realization that as he is getting older, I am to.  Or simply the emotional connection to little teeny clothing--I miss the infant he no longer is.

As I watched my boy sitting in his little walker, watching me cook the other day,  I thought of how every moment is a learning moment.  Everything my son sees me doing, he is soaking in and processing--even in his half a year old brain.

What am I teaching him in the thoughtless motions of my day? 

Would I want the words that come out of my mouth to come out of his?

Am I displaying character, integrity, kindness and respect?  Or am I displaying disregard for myself and others?  Am I showing him what it means to love God?  Or am teaching him to be luke-warm in love for our Lord?

The simple reading, 'riting and 'rithmatic are just that: simple--compared to the important things in life.  Simple in importance and simple in teaching.  (Which makes me aghast when one argues that another is not fit to educate their own at home--if one is qualified to shape their child's character, they are more then qualifed to teach academics!)

What good is a perfect score on the ACT, if one has not the work ethic to get their hands dirty in real work?  What good is a high-paying job when one can not love and esteem his/her spouse?  What good is a CEO position if he is disliked by everyone in the office because of his low regard for others?

My prayer is that the Lord would teach me to be an example to my son. To show him how to love others, and his God.  To teach him respect and shape him into a man of integrity.

Because, truly, I prefer that my son have C's in all of his classes and be a man of character,  then excel in everything academic and have no esteem for others.