He can’t see me
not tonight, but a common find in their bedroom...
Upon tuck-ins with Hunter (8) and Isaac (3.5) at 9:50 this evening….
Mom: Boys, you can’t both sleep together in the crib tonight. Tomorrow’s a school day, and we need to get to sleep.
(Hunter climbs out of Isaac’s crib and into his own bed.)
Isaac: I want to sleep in Hunters bed!
Mom: No, you will stay in your crib. If you get out of your crib you will have a consequence.
Isaac (with confidence): When you go away and sleep, I’ll sneak into his bed.
Mom: Then you will get a consequence. You need to choose to obey Mommy’s words.
Isaac (declaring more boldly as if Mom didn’t understand him the first time): No, I’ll sneak. I’ll go in his bed when you are asleep, you won’t see me.
Mom: I will know. And God will see you. And you will have a consequence. God can always see you.
Isaac: Nope, I’ll hide in a box. He won’t see me there.
Mom: God can see you everywhere. You can’t hide from God.
Isaac: He can’t see me under a pillow.
Mom: God can see you everywhere. In a box, under a pillow, everywhere…
Isaac: He can’t see me underwater. Not in a river or under the wave.
Mom: God can see you underwater. And in a river. And under a wave.
Isaac: I’ll hide in a cave. He can’t see me in a cave.
Mom: God can see you everywhere. You can never hide from Him.
Isaac: He can’t see me in your neck. I’ll hide in your neck.
Mom: God can see you in a cave, in my neck, under a pillow, in a box, underwater, in a river, under a wave, and everywhere!
(This was starting to sound like a Dr. Seuss book. That might have had some influence.)
Isaac: Then I’ll cut your neck. I’ll hide inside it.
Mom (yes I was a bit taken back): Isaac, that isn’t nice. If you cut my neck, it would hurt Mommy. I would die.
Isaac: That’s okay.
Mom: It’s not okay. You wouldn’t have a mommy anymore. Nobody would take care of you or the kids. Nobody would feed you, snuggle you, play with you, read you books, etc…
Isaac: I can buy a new mommy.
Mom: No, you can’t buy a new mommy.
Isaac: Yes, I can at the mommy store.
(Hunter is giggling in the background.)
Mom: Isaac, there is no mommy store. You only have one Mommy, the exact Mommy God wants you to have. That’s why he put us together in our family. Mommy loves you.
Isaac solemnly buried his head into his pillow and sobbed and sobbed.
I don’t know if he was sobbing because he was over tiered, sorry that he was unkind to me, sad that I would be dead, or sad that he couldn’t get a new mommy!
Regardless, I was tiered! In hindsight I would have answered a bit differently, but it was fast paced!
I tucked him in, said EXTRA prayers and good-night songs.
I’ll admit, my heart was a tad sad with the cut-your-neck-part and getting a new mommy. (Although, I think he was looking at my neck because I was bending over his crib, and he really was cutting it so he could go inside and hide.)
I enjoy his wit and endurance. If I didn’t have six of these blessings and some mommy-experience, I might be a bit more shaken.
Hopefully, this post prepares or encourages you moms in bloggy-land tonight. If you happen to have, or have had, a witty three-year-something blessing yourself. You are not alone!
Please tell me, I’m not the only one…. right?
I’m off to bed to pray for Isaac’s heart and the great things the Lord will do with Isaac’s mighty will for God’s glory!
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Comments
Darci..you are definitely not alone..and I think you handled it JUST right..with the sober truth and prayer. What is in your heart comes out at times like this.
Posted by: Herma | January 4th, 2010 12:09
Oh my goodness what a whip smart little man! In spite of the “cut your neck” bit (which I am agreeing with you on account of how smart Isaac is, I think he probably was thinking about using your neck for a hidey hole!) he certainly must keep you on your game.
Posted by: Laura Kauffman | January 4th, 2010 14:25
You are definitely not alone. I think you handled it just right! And I don’t think he was upset that he couldn’t get a new mommy – I think (in addition to being tired), he was upset that he wasn’t able to convince you to let him have his way. And I agree that the neck-cutting wasn’t malicious – just his way of trying to find a creative hiding spot. Olivia was about that age when she wanted a new mommy. “Where do kids go when they want a new mommy?” was the question I got. It’s a good thing they are so cute and that we love them so much!
Can you imagine what the teenage years will be like??
Posted by: Kimberly Salisbury | January 4th, 2010 19:08
He is a persistant little guy!
My eldest was my most persistent. Very intriguing that number four got that personality in your home. You are probably better equipped to deal with it, as you suggest, having had bigger brothers to learn from.
My fourth is crazy stubborn. Not in the same way as Isaac. She doesn’t persist with words, but in actions.
*sigh* They are all so sweet.
Posted by: Stacy | January 5th, 2010 18:06
Before i read what you wrote about Dr Seuss, i was thinking the exact same thing! Life would be very dull if we didnt have children saying and doing things that surprise us like that. Connor out of nowhere told me the other day “Mommy, im better than Jesus.” So prideful, even at 3 years old.
Posted by: Rebecca | January 5th, 2010 19:47