It's minus a few ribbons these days, but it remains beloved. A few weeks ago, I tossed it into the laundry basket and started down the hall toward the wash room. Spencer caught sight of me and was about to join the usual laundry day parade when he saw his blanket among the pile of dirty clothes.
He wanted it back.
"After we wash it, honey," I said.
Tears. (These were not three-year-old-having-a-fit tears. These were three-year-old-broken-hearted tears.) "But I LOVE blankie na-na!" he managed through his sobs.
Startled by the emotion, I scooped him up. Had he never seen me wash his blanket before?? I snuggled him for a few minutes and tried to explain that we wanted blankie to be clean, that blankie wouldn't get hurt in the washer, that he'd just have a fun bath.
The tears subsided, but skepticism still reigned.
"It will be alright," I said with gravity to match Spencer's expression, "I promise."
His quivering little voice finally compromised, "Can I sit on your lap and we watch it?"
His quivering little voice finally compromised, "Can I sit on your lap and we watch it?"
We sat and watched and waited, and waited and watched and sat.
He was sober the whole time, occasionally making wistful comments like, "Member blankie na-na was on my bed?"
Even after waiting through half of the wash time, Spencer refused all the alternate activities I proposed. So we just sat there by the cereal and the trash bags for the duration of the cycle.
And I don't think I've ever had such a wonderful wash day.
18 comments:
Such a cute boy! One thing I meant to tell you when I "met" you last weekend is that you are the most amazing writer ever! An amazing writer and photographer? There must be books in your future...?:)
I agree sis....books need to be written! I have my first lesson on Sunday and I wish I had your amazing insight. Lots of love.
I agree with both comments. You have a gift. I love reading your blog!
That's so sweet. Good thinking to watch it with him.
We had this VHS called "Baby Songs" growing up. One of the sweet ones was called "Security." The chorus goes:
"Don't wash my blanket, don't take it away
I want to drag it around while I play
To me it's O.K. dirty and gray
Please don't wash my blanket today"
It's really sweet. I found it on youtube, you and Spencer might like it :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRalPk-6-pk
Cute little Spencer. What a great memory. It reminds me of the picture book Knuffle Bunny.
Lori, you are such a wonderful mother. I know that my patience would wear thin sitting through a whole wash cycle. I guess it's good we still have a top-loader.
Also, speaking of books, Paul said to me weeks and weeks ago that he thinks you should write a book. I meant to share those thoughts with you much sooner than now, but I definitely agree. We love to read about you and learn from you and we are constantly inspired by you. I think others would be too. (Not that you have endless time for writing books or anything, but maybe someday?)
Ditto to everything everyone has said. Most of us would try and explain to our children how impractical their request is; we're busy people after all. I love that you really have the big picture in view all the time. You will be able to see your children reach adulthood with very few regrets (even though I'm sure you beat yourself up about little things here and there--you are a really great mom Lori!).
Lori, Thanks for always being such a great reminder of what is most important.
You are the mother of all mothers. Patient and loving. I could never sit through the whole wash cycle. I would have given up and left him there. You really do take every opporutunity so make memories with your kids and I admire you for that, along with several (countless) other things. Thank you for the reminder that life doesn't have to be so fast paced, we can slow down and enjoy the "wash"! Love you and I do agree with everyone, when you get a spare moment write a book!
Ditto ditto ditto! You are so wonderful to sit and watch the blanket watch. I think I would have grown impatient after 5 minutes. (And I always sneak James' blanket and Alex's bear when they aren't looking so that I can wash them without the fight!)
And I've been thinking for years that you should write a book (or two! or three!)
Love you!
I suppose when I read all those comments about writing a book the thing that comes to my mind every time is, she is, readers, she is. We are reading it and enjoying it and sharing it and learning from it and making our lives more meaningful and better because she is writing "word after word, after word" and even though it iisn't bound and printed yet, it is as treasured as if it were.
Love you, Lori, and that boy and his blanket!
So sweet!
Soooo cute.
Grandma Lu is completely right. Just wish I had a hard copy to sit on my desk at night to read in the middle of the night or when it is a rough day.
Lori, I just LOVE you! I love that you sat among the cereal and trash bags for a whole wash cycle with your boy, that you put him first. That you took pictures and recorded everything with your beautiful insight. Thank you for sharing! I always get so excited when I see a new post on Pursuits of Happiness, whether they make me smile as this one did or make me cry like "Room with a View" did. Every single one uplifts me. Thank you, my friend.
That's so precious. My little 2 year old is attached to a "blank" and had a horrible time when I last washed it. This makes me wish I had a front loader with a glass door so he could see that his "blank" was safe!
Lori, I haven't commented on your blog in a long time and it's not for a lack of thinking of you - I have thought and prayed for your family countless times. I have such a hard time coming up with the words I want to use to express my feelings, but I've decided to finally break radio silence! :) This post (like so many of yours) has touched me deeply. As I read, I was so touched by the great compassion you showed to your son when he was in need of it. I tend to get so wrapped up in things that "need" to get done that I forget to slow down and take things at my kids' paces when needed. Thank you for being such an inspiration!
We put up our Christmas tree this weekend and I put the ornament you gave me last year on it and cried out of gratitude. So grateful to know you, to get to learn from your mothering example. If I am ever half the mother you are, I will consider myself amazing. Sure love you. Thanks for your friendship.
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