Archive for the ‘support’ tag

Standing Tall

This week, our trip to the local library yielded one of those larger-than-life moments when we brought a book home about the Empire State Building in New York City. Giant and I read the book, cover to cover, as we sat together snuggled cozily under the weight of the blankets that cover his bed. We read of the adventures of the sky boys, the specialists, riveter gangs, water boys and all of those responsible for raising a monolith off from a piece of paper into reality.

It wasn’t long before skyscrapers in general took on a life of their own here at the Little Yellow House. It’s official: Giant has discovered skyscrapers. For those who follow my blog (thanks!), or for those who know our family, you know that Giant is five years old. Five-and-a-half, if you ask him. He is inquisitive and fascinated with structures of all types, so this adoration and desire to learn all that he can about skyscrapers really comes as no surprise.

However, I can’t help but take it one step further. If you think about it, skyscrapers can be a metaphor for not your own children’s lives but also for the lives of children everywhere. For those entrusted to care for their hearts, bodies and minds, we want to raise our children to be straight, flexible when necessary and strong…able to stand on their own in all types of weather.

Recently, Joe Biden said, as he remembered his friend and colleague, Senator Edward Kennedy, remarked that Kennedy was “never small.”* Though the two are worlds apart, there’s an element of that description in both of my children.

It is also my dream for them.

In Elf, who’s two years old, I see the spunk, wit and spit of a prize fighter running through her veins. (Neither Hubby nor I will admit which one of us is responsible for that!) She is happy and knows what she likes. And, she’s not afraid to tell you. She also knows what she doesn’t like, which mostly consists of vegetables for the moment. When she mixes the batter for muffins, her face contracts in concentration, tongue sticking out a little from the corner of her mouth. When she runs, she runs with all of her body, arms pumping and a huge smile on her face. When she screams in anger or frustration, she screams loud…really loud. She embodies life in its purest and rawest form.

In Giant, I witness a child who can seem larger than life with his robust energy and zest for the world. And with age, I am witness to his evolving sense of right and wrong and his love for the earth. Here is a tenacious child who can express his many feelings, one who has been much too busy building and racing his cars and trucks around to notice art supplies and now spends hours creating maps, pictures of cats and people. He’s curious about words and how they work and often attempts to craft the letters of the alphabet and numbers that he’s exposed to daily into real words. I enjoy sharing jokes with him, catching him by surprise to see if I can catch his eyes light up and dreaming up big plans.

Nature graced us and blessed us with two beautiful and precious babies. Those who raised the Empire State Building first began with raw materials and wove them together to create something beautiful. We hope to do the same in raising our children.

How my husband and I choose to create and nurture connections—or not—how we choose to inspire our children, build confidence and believe in their ability to achieve their dreams all make a difference…for we are building the foundations for the man and woman they will ultimately become.

Regardless of what path each one of our children chooses, my husband and I hope that our children will never be or feel small in this lifetime. May they always stand tall…just like the mighty skyscrapers.

*http://www.examiner.com/x-12837-US-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m8d26-Ted-Kennedy-remembered-by-Vice-President-Joe-Biden