I spent the weekend interstate visiting my sister, her husband and their 3 beautiful children. My visits are always hectic and full of precious moments with my little nephews and niece.
We were celebrating my little niece’s 2nd birthday, so the house was filled with laughter, tears, presents, birthday cake, grandparents, friends and relatives! Oh and lots of children!
My time with these precious little ones always seems to slip by too fast, and this morning I awoke early as I had an early flight home to catch. Noah, my 3 year old nephew woke also as we were camping out together and accompanied his Mum to the airport with me. Yesterday his little sister had been given a “pretend” lipstick for her birthday much to his disgust, so his Mum gave him a “real “half used lipstick and told him that it was his now, and as such he could use it to his hearts content.
On the way to the airport we chatted and reminisced about the weekend and looking to the back of the people mover I saw my beautiful nephew with ruby red lips courtesy of the gold case he held tightly in his hand. His Mum and I laughed and I remember thinking just how beautiful he was with his mop of curly red hair and gorgeous blue eyes. Part of the journey involves about 10 minutes of an underground tunnel and I remember turning around to check on him again once we came out of the tunnel only to find the lipstick had now made its way to both his hands and his entire right leg, and he was madly working on ensuring his left leg would surely match his right.
I remember his Mum’s reaction to this news: “Oh well I did tell him when I gave it to him it was his now and up to him to use it how he wanted”. I was and continue to be amazed at what a wonderful Mother she is, I don’t know that I would have been that calm 20 something years ago if my children had done that?
I am in awe of how she guides her children to make choices by outlining the consequences of those choices, and it is amazing to watch a 2 year old comprehend! She recognizes her children as individuals with different thoughts and feelings and likes and dislikes and encourages sibling love and sharing and caring toward others.
While she guides and directs them through life every day, she also encourages their own independence, teaching them responsibility and reward.
My elder nephew who is 5 was working in the garden with his Grandfather the day before and the task was to move toys from the front garden to the back. They both began gathering the toys and walking back and forth with them until I heard Isaac say to his Grandfather: “I have an idea, how about you collect the toy and bring it to me, I will stand in the middle and then carry that toy to the end, to save you walking”. At 5 years of age his problem solving skills were already clearly developing and so was his confidence. I don’t think when I was 5, my father would have liked me putting forth such a suggestion!
By MaryAnn Roche
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