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All by Ruth Simons
Recently, in the deluge of headlines, national news, international crises, and history making events, anyone navigating the internet may have found it to be exceptionally noisy place.
As grateful as I am for the access we currently have to information, the latest commentary, and debates held in the public forum, I’m wondering if all this easily obtained information has done us a disservice.
I’m not sure that more information has made us better thinkers.
Last summer, our family did the unthinkable: We drove 3400 miles round trip from New Mexico to Florida, and back, with all 8 of us (including 6 boys ages 1 to 12) in one SUV. We survived to tell about it, and quite frankly...loved proving to ourselves that we weren't completely insane.
This year, we are reprising the unthinkable and throwing a trip up to Georgia and back through the midwest in the mix. Let's face it: Flying is expensive but not impossible. Going that far for that long in one car together as a family has to be intentional. You have to choose that kind of crazy. Amen?
Recently, I came upon an unexpectedly sweet moment between two of my boys. My oldest had just settled in on the couch with a good book when the 2 year old awoke from his nap, came toddling in, and asked for his brother to read him a book. My 13 year old set down his reading and pulled the diapered toddler onto his lap and began to reading a rousing edition of Thomas The Train. I tiptoed in from the kitchen to catch a glimpse of the unprompted sweetness.
I suppose it shouldn’t surprise me to see such a welcome of an interruption, considering my eldest is the first of 6 boys. And yet, it does, because he’s the oldest of 6.
Maybe we make it hard on ourselves, moms. We love to try and say the most important things at the most difficult times.
Here'a s familiar scene for many of us:
His answer caught me a bit by surprise. "I would love it if you just hugged me...longer."
In a season of difficult decisions and busy schedules, I had asked my husband, "What can I DO to help you?" I wanted to make phone calls, create to-do lists...take things off his plate. I longed to right the wrongs and fix things. Well aware of all that had to be done in the day to day, I rarely paused for long displays of affection; I was too efficient for hugs.
Maybe it’s just my house, but 2015 has started with quite a bit more conflict than I would like to admit. Conflict between adults, conflict between siblings, conflict between parents and children. I’ve had ample opportunity to consider what is truly happening when we, in family, fight.
When my kids argue, I tend to draw the quickest line from bickering to judicial resolution. I’m quick to call order with the gavel, and solve the issue with a definitive redistribution of toys, separation of offenders, and a call to cease and desist. Everyone has an explanation for why there’s conflict, and the reason is never themselves.
Have you ever noticed: When we ask our kids what the problem is, in the midst of conflict, no one ever says, “The problem in this situation is my selfish pride.” It’s not so different from conflict between parents either. After all, my kids are learning how to handle conflict by watching me.
