MAN UP!
Today was one of those days that I will mark on life’s time line. I watched all four of the quads get on a bus and pull away. And then I watched them pull up and wave, as they peered over the school bus window. Watching my three daughters and one of their brothers walk to and from the bus with their back-packs on…where has the time gone? Yes, this is not typical for most kids to start riding school buses and so on and so forth. But it is our reality.
It was a fairly quiet day, until they were all 5 back together around 3:30. And then, of course, all the fighting and loud games picked up where they left off.
But the best part of the day was at bedtime. I had gathered up all the plates, forks and cups from dinner. I got everyone upstairs and changed into their pj’s. The boys went to their room and sat in the floor and waited for me. The girls got into their beds and under the covers. They were all three very tired. So, I sat on their beds and just talked to each of them individually. I then quietly told them to close their eyes. I didn’t move. I just watched as their breathing slowed, their eyes stopped moving behind their eyelids and they were three little angels putting on their impressions of Precious Moment dolls.
See, I believe that men today are expected to continue being men of old, while learning to be more sensitive and more understanding. There is that image of a man that shows him with the ability to fix anything around the house and on the car. He is to have a steady job with good pay. He needs to be able to show some skill in managing most every area of his life, while supporting every member of his family, at all times. But these days, a real man needs to be able to tear himself away from those manly duties and step into that sensitive guy with the big heart. Watching my girls drift off to sleep was awesome, as well as comical, but so sweet. Since I travel a lot with my job, to have times like these, I still get to live a better life than most.
So, although I might get frustrated with them over this and that…it is nights like tonight that really cause me to man up and be quiet with them. Goodnight Princess, TomBoy, and Drama-Queen.
April 19, 2008 at 4:41 am
Life…forever…
April 19, 2008 at 7:20 am
What a beautiful picture of words you gave of our sweet girls. I’m glad you got to here for the second day of school. It was so cute to see them wave hello and goodbye in the bus. Hehe! They really are growing up.
April 23, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I just sat here while reading this post, and realized that my children have never been tucked into their beds by their dad. He never cared enough to show them attention until one day he just walked out and never looked back. I hope you know how significant your acts are each and every day. Even the small things will make these little girls so proud to be your daughters one day!