My children are troopers. They are amazing. The way that they flex from one thing to another, is quite amazing. This week we have taxied all around this city. I don’t have the car here, so we’ve been hailing cabs and walking about.
We walked for about an hour the other day. Weston collected rocks. Sierra knelt down with beggar children and sang with them on the street for money. Meanwhile, Weston questioned me about them. He was so disturbed and couldn’t understand why they were doing this. “Aren’t they cold mom? Why don’t they go home it’s getting dark. They must be cold,” he reasons. He’s right, those poor boys. I hope they really have a home, but begging in winter, when there are no tourists, is not very profitable, so I wonder too. Meanwhile Sierra giggles and kneels with them and holds out her hands like the boys. Everyone who passes smiles, she even makes the boys smile!
We finally arrived to eat Indian food, the real thing cooked by a man from India, they don’t bat an eye. They take off their shoes, they sit on the ground next to the short table. They look at the menu and they drink hot tea. We draw pictures and take silly photographs. Lentil soup comes and a cilantro chicken dish that is doused in curry sauce. They don’t blink and eye they eat it. They say, “lt’s good.”
After dinner, we bundle up in 2-3 layers each and hit the street again. Sierra rides in her stroller and Weston walks beside me, holding on to the stroller. Umbrella strollers are amazing things. They can take a beating and still keep working. They are great for weaving in and out of pedestrian traffic and keep in their space on a narrow side walk bursting with people. The trusty little stroller holds my 40 pound treasure so that we can traverse this foreign city together.
My kids are not perfect- by any means. They are just so able to handle this life. This boy and girl were made for it. They embrace it fairly well and are all the better for it. Weston spoke in 4 languages today, all from his memory. He wants me to translate everything. Sierra is a major joy and just full of smiles for all.
They adapt in their own ways within the talents and strengths God has given them. Weston tries to deeply understand and make his mind as orderly as possible by questioning and understanding at a deeper level than a boy of five. Sierra charms her way through Asia with her doll like face and happy heart. She blows kisses at everyone and understands emotions perfectly- she has no need for words in that talented part of her personality.
I am thankful for my children. I love them so much. I want more of them. Yes, the baby bug has hit me again. I didn’t know if it would, but my baby is three and needs another sibling. (This is not an announcement, by the way,) just a crazy woman who is overwhelmed at the grace of God.
I can’t believe what a blessing motherhood has been for me. I am so full of mistakes and sin. Motherhood points each one out to me, my laziness, my selfishness, my harshness. Really, I am all of those things and more and God uses my children to show me how weak I am and to turn me back to Him, begging for mercy on me and my kids. Asking for wisdom and guidance…
Motherhood is truly a gift.
