I think this is a post for here...

[mommykof5]

First you all know those mats you fill with water and a baby smacks it and watched fish or whatever wiggle aroung inside. Okay so heres the story



I just had to share something that happened to me last night. It was really a busy time right after dinner. Dh is just getting ds and dd out of the bath, other dd is getting in, I'm trying to do the dishes and sweep the kitchen floor as my parents and my brother, his girlfriend, and their two VERY loud, roudy, rude children just left after "surprising" us with dinner. (nice thought but as I told my mom please do not do it again anytime soon as I can not handle my neice and nephew). The baby is on the living room floor crying and I'm trying to fix his bottle.(I hate bottles they are a pain I am finding but that is a whole nother story) ANYWAY dd (2yo) kept asking me for some water I kept telling her in a minute in a minute.
About 15 harried minutes later the baby's fed, the dishes done, kitchen clean, and the floor is swept I turned to dh and said let's sit outside a minute. (only halfway peaceful place). We sat outside to gather our wits and were out on the back porch about ten minutes. We go inside and there is my 2yo trying very very hard to scrub something up off the floor with a towel. I asked her what she was doing and she pointed to this water filled turtle toy mat and said "I was thirsty but he peeded on me". Ya'll she had tried to open the water hole to get a drink. I gathered her in my arms and told her how sorry I was.
Since then I cut me out a little green turtle and put it on my fridge so that I will not forget and get too busy that I can not stop and humble my self before a child to hear her simple request for a drink of water. After all the dear Lord said follow the children for they shall enter the kingdom of heaven. I must remember that even as I lead her she leads me and last night she reminded me to have a humble heart.

[mommyofshmoo]

I had similar experience once when my dd had been sleeping poorly. I refused to get out of bed to go downstairs with her when she said she was hungry. I figured she'd eventually go back to sleep.

When I came downstairs the entire contents of the freezer were out in her attempts to find food. She'd also opened every popsicle in an attempt to find green or orange- the only colors she likes.

I guess she was really hungry after all. But apparently not hungry enough to settle for a purple or red popsicle.

[Jules411]

I read your story and thought, yeah, that kind of thing happens and you feel so bad. Then I looked at your name and thought mom of 5...no wonder that happened! Don't be hard on yourself. Sounds like a crazy evening at your house. That time of day is usually such a nightmare and I am only a mom of 2.

It is a good reminder, though, to listen to our children, really listen. Which I guess is the real point of your post. Sometimes life gets in the way of that. Thanks for the reminder.

[mommykof5]

Thank you. Yes it was a crazy time. That dinner hour is really bad for everybody. And yes the real point is to really listen to our children. Sometimes we miss so much of what they can teach us in the everyday business of life.