Over the years I have been continually amused by the gems I find in the boys’ pockets when I do laundry. I’ve heard moms fuss about having to empty pockets, but I’ve always truly enjoyed it. From the time my little guys were toddling around in their trusty rubber boots, I’ve been discovering the day’s most treasured finds when I get to their pockets. Dirt-encrusted Matchbox cars that went miles around a stick-drawn track to the tune of two perfected motor-mouths. A most beautiful bouquet made up of one little, yellow flower amidst a handful of drying grass and leaves, tucked away and forgotten before delivery to its intended recipient. Three rocks in varying sizes that were discovered in the driveway and deemed special and irreplaceable and worthy of a collection. A button, a washer, a Lego, a penny. Those special items shed a light on the fun-filled days and imaginations of my sweet boys and have always made me smile.
Tonight as I prepared their jeans for the laundry, I realized that those treasured items are changing. And with them, my boys as well. They’ve traded their cars and Legos for iPods and guitar picks. I’m more likely to find a cell phone or a notebook paper drawing of the latest hot sports car.
I know I spend an unhealthy amount of time thinking about and longing for those toddler days when I could still rock them to sleep whenever I wanted or read Goodnight Moon just one more time. I know it’s okay to miss those days but that won’t bring them back.
These days we can have real discussions, figure things out together, laugh at the same things, appreciate each other. I wouldn’t take one single, solitary thing for my memories of those little tow heads; but I have to say that I’m enjoying the people they are now and the young men they are turning into. I’ll never rush it. Never wish to get through this stage or that. Instead I vow to live in the now and enjoy the new stuff in their pockets.
one lively life 