Sometimes I’m afraid to post golden moments with my kids because they seem too good to be true. I fear that people will get the wrong idea about us–that we’re some kind of perfect little homeschooling family who never struggles, whose children are always angels. And since no family is perfect, but we tend to think the OTHER family is, then sharing a golden moment might actually discourage some mom who needed the opposite.
But we all have those golden moments, even though there are times they are too far between, and I think we should celebrate together.
So here’s the thing. I had a golden moment this weekend with one of my children. I’m telling you, it was the kind of thing a mom longs for and doesn’t get to experience very often. I’m going to share it but remember: This child is normal. Stephen is a precious kid, but also has angry times, ungrateful attitudes, and argumentative moments. But, like any child, once in a while he gives me a golden moment as he did this weekend, the weekend he turned twelve.
I agreed to a birthday party with ten boys. I not only agreed to that, but I agreed to let it last almost 24 hours, starting with an air soft gun game in a field, continuing to pizza, ice cream and movies, and turning into a sleep-over. After that, part of the kids even stayed through the morning and attended church with us. So it was a LONG party. I tried to talk my son out of so many kids or such long hours a couple of times, but I could tell this was really important to him. He was growing up and wanting to stretch into something bigger.
He also requested I not require the boys to go to bed too early. He felt that we were more strict than other homes on bedtimes at sleepovers, and that he was old enough to be allowed to stay up as late as he wanted for this special occasion.
We gave him all his requests. The party started Saturday afternoon and the last friend didn’t leave until late Sunday afternoon. They had a blast. Every kid was included in shooting air soft guns, jumping on the trampoline, playing the “scare” game (a family invention that includes turning off the lights and making lots of noise), eating, playing video games, and watching movies.
Sunday night after it was all over, I sat at my new desk in the living room working on my laptop. Stephen slipped into the recliner next to me. He looked up at me with those baby blues so like his dad’s and said, “Thanks, Mom. I’m a blessed kid. And I’m not just blessed because of the party. I’m blessed because I have good parents, and good friends, and a good family.”
I smiled at him and received his kindness, then reminded him who the giver of all good things is. He looked toward the ceiling and said, “Yes. And thank you, God. Thank you for all your blessings.”
After that Stephen sat quietly in the darkened room, the lamp next to him shining upon his lap as he read his Bible (something he just chose to do on his own). Then, with a quick kiss on my check, he disappeared to his room for the night.
I’ll hang onto that golden moment for a long time. Maybe forever.
