Last Updated on September 3, 2013
One of the sweetest things I hear daily is, “Mom, watch this!” Usually it’s followed by another child saying, “Mom, watch me!” and yet another child bellowing, “Look here, Mom! Watch me!!” Before I know it, I am spinning in circles — blissfully trying to watch all my children do various wonderful things!
The other night I took my three youngest children to the pool for my last-ditch get-’em-exhausted-before-bed effort! It was such fun, but I needed more arms and definitely more eyes. Yikes! That sounds terrifying … so maybe just a better plan and not all the eyes and arms.
My 10-year-old son was doing a cool trick off the side, my five-year-old daughter was swimming across the pool, and my three-year-old daughter was doing a somersault underwater. All three wanted me to watch immediately! Let the lovely single mom spin begin!
It means more to my children than I can comprehend for me to watch and encourage them in these little ways! Yet I struggle to focus and simply enjoy their antics. The pool is a great place because there isn’t any chore to do, any phone to answer, any email to check, or any project to complete. It’s just me and my kids enjoying the water! I love it!!
My five-year-old has this amazing smile when she jumps off the board, when she comes up out of the water, and when she climbs up the stairs to do it all over again! She’s the definition of joyful! I could watch her all day — in fact, I do!
My three-year-old pops up out of the water with the cutest grin you can imagine! And then she pops back under only to pop up again with another grin and pose! She brings a smile to my face each time her little head breaks the surface and she smiles at me. I never get tired of watching her.
My 10-year-old does flips off the board, holds his breath under water for long stretches of swimming, and is a fantastic big brother, tossing and playing with his little sisters. He still loves for me to watch him do amazing stunts.
My dilemma lies in the fact that I can’t watch everyone at once. I really want to — really! I wish I could convince them not to perform all their amazing feats at the same time, but I can’t! Occasionally my two oldest children can fill in for me and watch and cheer, but then I miss things!
I take my job as being my children’s biggest cheerleader very seriously! I don’t like to share my pom-poms! I know I could just watch one child and ask the others to redo — which I have to do at times. I love the craziness of all of them hollering for me to watch! I love the laughter, chaos, and joy, so I guess I’m just going to have to keep happily spinning in circles!
Sue Birdseye is an author and communicator who shares the adventures she has on her unexpected journey of single parenting. She went from the typical “picket fence” kind of life to being a single mom to five beautiful children. She has learned what it means to be totally dependent upon the Lord and how beautiful that dependence is. Her change of life circumstances has led to a passionate desire to encourage and bless other moms no matter their life circumstances. She has been active in her community as a foster/adoptive mom and public school teacher. She has also been part of her church’s worship, discipleship, women’s, and children’s ministries. She is an avid book reader, a game night hoster, and an early morning writer. Her book “When Happily Ever After Shatters” is the story of how God stepped into her life and the lives of her children just when everything seemed to be falling apart. She hopes that her writing will encourage, bless, and maybe even make someone smile.