The Way, Way Back To See

It's 5:30 am and they are on their way out the door. They are wearing matching choir shirts, and they're still a little groggy from a 4:45 am wake-up alarm. But as they rush to gather their things, I think to myself, "I want to hold this moment." And so I do. Much to their annoyance.

Now that they both attend the same school, they get mistaken for one another. And when Child #1 walked into Child #2's classroom, everyone thought they were twins. Even the teacher. You can imagine how much the Junior loved being labeled the same as a Freshman. Super warm fuzzies.

The teachers at the elementary school have told me that they continually call Child #3 by #2's name. They claim that the 3rd looks exactly like the 2nd did at this age.

But, here's what's funny...I don't see it. The similarity. They seem so individual to me. So very not alike. Maybe I'm too close to see how they look the same. Maybe my view is too concentrated and narrow.

Do you ever take the time to step back? Way back? To get a broader view of who your children really are? So often, we're so close, so in the details, the turmoil, the struggles, that we can't really, truly See. It might be a little wise to stand at a different angle and try to look with different eyes.

That might be one of the great parenting secrets. To close down the every day, ordinary view of our children. Maybe we will see them more clearly if we adjust our stance and eliminate our laser focus. At least every once in a while. Because, standing right there, right in front of you, is beauty. Goodness and joy and love in it's purest form. Right there. You see it every day, but most days we don't really See at all.

So let's take a step back. Even at 5:30 am in a rush to get out the door. Look at them. And See them. Tomorrow they can go back to being demanding and irritating. But not today. Today we will take a view from the way, way back. And hold the moment. It just might change tomorrow's view as well.