Petunia the Goose

I love reading childrens' books. The other day I was reading “Petunia” which is a story of a silly goose who picks up a book that was lying in the meadow and how the events that ensue changes her whole attitude.

The only thing she knew about books was what she had heard the farmer say about them: "He who owns Books and loves them is wise."

So, she thought that by simply carrying the book around with her all the time, that it not only made her more intelligent, but that it qualified her to give advice to her friends. BUT the advice she gave was not only incorrect but also hurtful.

But she did not realize this.

The more she carried the book the more proud she became, and the higher she would point her head until her neck became very long.

But her pride vanished literally with a big bang after she advised her barn yard friends (as she could not read the warning label) to eat dynamite. Her friends were left bruised and sore, and Petunia's neck returned to its normal length.

The explosion had also opened the book and she realized not only that there were pages with words inside but that she could not read them.

The book ends with her resolving to learn how to read and shows her studying a book about the alphabet.

When I finished reading the book I was left sitting in shock.

This childrens' book had made me realize a truth about myself.

It made me realize that I was very much like Petunia the goose.

I too thought that by being armed with a little knowledge (like Petunia knew that books make you intelligent) that I knew everything there is to know about babies.

I liked giving advice, and not only liked thinking that I was intelligent and knowledgeable but that others thought me intelligent and knowledgeable too.

And, like Petunia, it had made me proud.

Since that time I have been trying really hard (with some success) to not give advice when it is not sought. To not think that, because I don’t agree with what another mother is doing with her child, that it makes me any better of a mother.

And I can already see a difference.

Not only in my outlook but also in the mothers around me.

Who likes having a proud know-it-all goose around anyway?

Hopefully she has now been replaced by a humbly-supportive goose instead.

"But how can one be warm alone?"

Is there anything as sweet as a sleeping baby cuddled up against you?

With my husband gone on a backpacking trip, my little boy gets to sleep with me (with three in the bed it gets too crowded for me and my claustrophobia kicks in!).

But with the two of us it is so cozy. When he sleeps with me he always wants a hand or a foot on me for reassurance- “Mommy is still there!”- which probably comes from when he was younger (and smaller!) and used to sleep with us all the time and I would always keep a hand on him.

When we sleep together, falling asleep is never a problem as we cuddle together until we drift off in peaceful harmony.

His three o'clock feeding is just a continuation of the harmony as his gentle tugs on my shirt prompts me to roll over (without even properly waking up) and when he is finished he simply pulls away and falls back to sleep. So in tune with each other.

In the night if I wake up I listen to his breathing, tuck him in a little more, and relish the sweet moment of slumbering baby.

In the morning, my awakening is a little abrupt as my early-riser bats at me with his hands and pommels me with his feet with ever increasing vigor until I open an eye and then he gives me a radiant smile! “Ah ha! She is awake! Nope! Her eye is closed again- let me try again!” When I finally resign myself to my fate, he just wiggles with excitement! “Yes! I get to play with Mommy!” As I look into the two sparkling blue eyes and his toothy grin (with his tongue sticking out) I can't resist giving him a kiss on each plump cheek and a nibble under his chin in just the spot where he especially likes it.

It is such a precious time together. Mother and son so attuned to each other.

I miss my husband but also cherish these moments.

“Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?” (Ecclesiastes 4:11)

A Time to be Quiet

I think I must be a winter blogger.

Winter is the time to slow down and reflect. Spend time cozily indoors thinking about things and having the time to write those thoughts down.

The moment summer weather starts then it is a pity to be indoors quietly thinking, one needs to be outdoors- doing things and going places! Summer is the time for action! Go, go, GO!

But...

My baby is napping right now, so as I sit by the window looking out at the sunshine I have time to pause, reflect and type.

Later we will go swimming with some friends and walk to the park.

But right now is a good time to sip some tea, nibble on a cookie and take a few deep breaths. It is good to relax. Not to worry about the housework (it helps that I am not home at the moment), but just sit for a quiet moment.

There are a lot of thoughts in my head. Now is a good time to sort them out.

This is a good time just to be quiet.

Bumper Stickers

The other day, while driving to an appointment, I was at one of those traffic lights that take forever to change. So I had plenty of time to examine the back of the car in front of me and right away had a strong feeling that the occupant of that vehicle loved the university from which he/she had graduated.

From a large sticker on the back window, to a silver emblem on the trunk, to the license plate cover, to the bumper stickers (yes, plural- at least three) - this person left no doubt in ones mind about not only where he/she had graduated but that the university was part of his/her identity.

The type of car we choose often indicates what type of person we are, but the personalization of that car shows what one considers important in our lives. So important that one feels compelled to make a statement about it to the whole wide world (or at least to the cars that share the roads with you).

Political stickers, rude stickers, happy stickers, angry stickers, religious stickers, “I love my dog/my cat/my car/golf/cycling” stickers, “my kid is an honor student” stickers, baseball stickers, soccer stickers, football stickers. There are bumper stickers for everyone.

So if you are a British golfer, who likes to sail, owns a german shepherd and votes republican- you can let everyone who looks at your car know.

I have pet fish, but don’t feel compelled to tell the world that I love them.
I like to paint, but I don’t feel like it is an important part of my identity.
I think my kid is smart, but when he graduates from university at the age of 12, I won’t feel compelled to proclaim that on the back of my car (but that might change, as he is only 7 months old right now).

As I was sitting at that traffic light for what I was sure was almost half and hour (it has a vindictive sense of humor and always knows when I am running late), I thought about what I have on the back of my car.

I have a sticker that says “Christ is coming to reign on the earth, are you ready?” and one of those diamond shaped signs that say “Baby on board!”
They both serve as a reminder to be careful about my driving. The first one because it reminds me that I am a witness to my faith and the second because I have precious cargo on board.

But now following this train of thought about bumper stickers showing what I find important about my identity, I thought it was very revealing. Yes, my faith and my family are the two most important things in my life.

This thought suddenly put my life back into focus.

If my faith and my family are the two most important things in my life, do my thoughts, actions and decisions reflect that? In amongst the hussle and bussle of life other things had been crowding in.

Glancing at the rear-view mirror I could see a little chubby face staring back at me.

Thank you God for reminding me.

The light turned green and I started to drive, but now it wasn’t only my car that reflected what is important to me.

It changed my whole attitude that day.