In the first weeks and months of my life as the mother of two children, everyone asked, "How's it... going..." insert furtive eye-casting toward Orlando here, "with two?"
"Oh, it's fine. He's fine. We're tired."
It wasn't until Mica got mobile that Orlando started expressing himself... usually by saying "I wish I didn't have a brother!" and "Mica ruins everything!"
When Orlando says things like that, I'm almost always able to reflect back to him or reword things, "It's hard doing that project/game with Mica. Let's move it to a different spot," Or "Yeah, you wish you didn't have a brother sometimes."
But a couple of months ago, he went through a phase of telling me, "You love me MORE!" or "You love me THE MOST!"
This one wasn't so easy for me.
Then one time, after we had been reading books together, Mica was on the floor playing and Orlando was on my lap.
"You love me THE MOST, right, Mama?"
I immediately felt my resistance -- "I'm not going to tell you I love you the most!" -- but then I did it anyway.
"I love you THE MOST, Orlando!"
I started laughing and he did, too. I just felt like, I love you all the MOST! so I can say I love you the most without taking any love away from anybody else.
"I love you THE MOST!"
Look at that... there is enough love for everyone.
I was positively giggly. And so was he.
He's never asked me again to tell him I love him the most.
+ + +
Now I just need to figure out what to do when Mica climbs up on my lap, pushes Orlando with all his might while crying out, "Mine! Mine! My mama!"
And I mean, he pushes Orlando off my lap -- a two year old using brute strength against his five-year-old brother.
Orlando resists and cries, "No! My mama!" His eyes are shining with playfulness just a hair away from dead-serious.
If Rom is home, I see him from across the room, my lap filled with quarreling children, and I can tell he is thinking, "Dudes, I knew her long before you!"
Ay ay. A woman only has so much, right?
Though if I'm going to keep going with this abundance thing, I suppose I should start saying, "I'm all yours! (Mica) and I'm all yours! (Orlando) and I'm all yours! (Rom my honey)"
And last but not least, "I'm all MINE!"
What a blessing to be so thoroughly loved.
ReplyDeleteI always got around that by saying "you are my favorite brown eyed child" and "you are my favorite green eyed child".
ReplyDeleteBut your story is mega cute. :)
Cute story.
ReplyDeleteI totally feel you, by the way. The other day a local politician stopped by to woo my vote and he kept having to talk around my kids' head, which were bouncing wildly on my head, against my chest, against each's heads.
I love that last line, because I think we all feel that sometimes at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteI love it :o) And you might like the book I Love You The Purplest - http://www.barbarajoosse.com/detail.asp?ProductID=44
ReplyDeleteYou're a very sweet and thoughtful Momma.
Mine don't like sharing mom, there's lots of "My mama!" "No, my mama!" It's sweet behind the frustration the be so loved.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to respond to what must be a heart-wrenching (albeit momentarilly)moment!
ReplyDeleteSome days I find myself crying on the phone to Justin (hubby) "They won't leave me alone!" as they follow me all around the house, climb all over me, fight for attention and love, and won't give me to seconds to take a whiz!!!
So this is what I get to look forward to! My girls are 4 months apart- yes, I typed that correctly- and I'm waiting for the days when the real fun will begin- TALKING!
ReplyDeleteSuch an awesome story! Your little men do indeed have great names. This is a very, very cool blog and I especially love the picture of you and your family horsing around in the sidebar. It's perfect.
ReplyDeleteI am in that stage right now where my daughter loves her brother...I know the days are limited, lol.
ReplyDelete