Mommy...I need...

The cry of "Mommeeeeee" often comes from another room. I never know what I'll find when I go running in. It could be the boys bludgeoning each other with tubes of wrapping paper they snuck out of the closet or maybe the call is for me to get the bug/spider/scorpion out of the bedroom/bathroom/living room. Sometimes one of them has the other one's book that they were "just about to read". Other times it's blood dripping from (insert name of 'body part of the week' here). One thing for sure, it's never boring.

Occasionally it's less about crises but more about getting your attention for something important to ask or share. The call of "Mommy" comes from the bedroom at night. "What happens when we die? Will it hurt?" It comes from a hike in the woods, "Mommy, come see this cool beetle. I'm taking it home with me!" Um, yeah. And sometimes, as is the case with my youngest, it's the simple sense of knowing I'm there with him. "Mommy?" "Yes?", I answer. "Mommy, I love you." I smile every time and say, "I love you too, Sweetie - more than anything."

Last night the call of "Mommy" showed up with a face of tears. When asked what was wrong, his sweet little voice choked, "Mommy, why do we spend some of our precious moments in bed?" He then threw himself on me and wept, wanting to be held and cuddled to know it was all good. We had a little talk about all the different "precious moments" we share all the time. It can be as simple as singing a song together, the three of us. It can be holding hands and walking back from the playground, watching the sunset and marveling at all the colors. It is the giggling that accompanies proud smiles and cries of "You did it" when they swim on their own for the first time.

Sometimes it's just watching them play with sticks, seaweed and string while "fishing" at the campground lake. It can just be snuggling in bed on a Saturday morning when they pile in to be close and we giggle while trying to move around and find enough space for us all to be comfortable. Special moments take many different shapes and fashions. It's the three of us having a "laundry folding party" (hey, if you want help - you gotta make it fun!) and throwing balled up pairs of socks at each other amid much laughter or maneuvering in the kitchen as we all try to bake together.

Tonight, my oldest told me casually as he was getting out of the shower, "Mommy, I need you to squeeze the puss out of the bump on my bottom." I, without flinching say, "Sure, just get dried off and dressed and then I'll take a look." Puss? Bump on bottom? Where in the parenting manual does this get covered? Ick! But then I think back to last night and think, precious moments come in all shapes and fashions. One day, this will all be over and with any justice in the world they'll be dealing with the same question from their little one. Precious moments...sure, really...I think. Yeah...they are.