Everything is a big deal to my middle son, it’s either a celebration or a party, he makes everything seem bigger than it actually is. It has been getting increasingly frustrating lately and I correct him when he says, I loved the celebration or the party. I politely say its JUST dinner, JUST hanging out with friends and family, JUST playing a game, JUST coloring, JUST going swimming, JUST going to baseball practice, its not a celebration or a party, its JUST doing simple everyday things.
When we had a BBQ at our complex, he was super excited when our friend grilled hotdogs with fruit, chips and a juice-box. You couldn’t get him to stop talking about what a great party it was. The fact is it was just dinner at the picnic tables and something easy to grill so the mommies didn’t have to endure the heat of the kitchen on a hot day and not to mention clean up was a breeze with paper plates.
The other night I had a horrible migraine and I didn’t feel like cooking minimal is all where it was for me that night. So I made breakfast for dinner. I put cinnamon rolls in the oven, placed the bacon in the microwave, and opened a Yoplait® Go-Gurt, cut up an orange, poured a bowl of cereal, and quickly cooked some eggs. I felt like the worst mother for serving breakfast twice in the same in day. My son walked in from playing outside and he asked what that smell from the oven was. I told him they were cinnamon rolls, he asked, “are they for now”? I told him they were for now. He smiled so brightly and I told him we are having breakfast for dinner, expecting to have my son have a meltdown when I shared the news. Instead he looked at me with the biggest smile and jumped in the air to high five me. He hugged me tight and told me I was the best mommy. As soon as he sat down and after we prayed for our meal he asked what the special occasion was. I told him it was just breakfast for dinner nothing to celebrate.
My son’s after school care had a potluck dinner tonight that we attended. It wasn’t a celebration it was a just because event. My son signed me up a day prior to bring cupcakes and was begging, pleading with me to attend the event. The truth is sometimes I don’t feel like doing anything after 5pm besides cooking dinner, and preparing the kids for bed. I am exhausted and depending on the day and how my head is feeling I just want to be a recluse. After being broken down by my son about how he wanted to go to this celebration and join the party I agreed. All night he was talking about it and how much fun he was going to have, to the point where it got to be annoying.
When we got home my son was nonstop talking about how much fun this party was and how happy he was to go and that I was the best mommy. He delighted in the fact that the cupcakes were the best ever ( I was embarrassed by them as I was rushed and having a baby on my hip while doing sprinkles = disaster), It went on for about an hour. I finally said sternly, “It wasn’t a celebration, it wasn’t a party, it was a get together. Just like when we have dinner with our friends at the picnic tables or when mommy made breakfast for dinner, or we use zoopal plates, visit nanny, grandpa etc, its just normal things, everyday things its not a celebration or a party.”
My son just stared at me lost in thought for what seemed like five minutes and then said, “God made the day mommy and we are all here, isn’t that a celebration? Shouldn’t we be thankful everyday and celebrate with the moments we have? Why do you think balloons and cake make an event, its you and me mommy and being together, its family and friends. Thanking God in our way for what we have and we show we love him by liking the little things that are big things to God, we show that by giving thanks mom.”
I started crying and I hugged my little guy. He’s right, here I am celebrating when people have events, holidays, birthdays, and he is giving thanks for everything. I realized at that moment everything to him is about celebrating and thanking God. I used this opportunity to look online for a verse that talks about giving thanks I found 1 Thessalonians 5:17-19, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
We talked about it and gave examples, although I know this verse was meant for me as my son seems to live it and shows me by example daily. I will pray and implement this in my life and work on applying it daily. I will give thanks in all circumstances and be glad. I will celebrate every moment as it is a gift from God.
