Days with children are rewards of their own

“Because I Said So” column for The Commercial Appeal

June 9, 2011

I spent last weekend away from my own four children at my mother’s house in Naples, Fla. While there, I found myself in a world I am in no way equipped to handle at this point in my life. Not the world of beaches, sea breezes and palm trees, but one of graduates and babies.

I took this trip for my brother, David, who was graduating from high school. As it is with all such occasions, we were bombarded with talk of the graduates’ immediate futures and plans, and with the speeches of a valedictorian, salutatorian and optimistic administrators.

I am still five long years from my own son’s high school graduation, and was surprised last week to realize that I am not looking forward to that milestone and his inevitable release into the real world. As I listened to my mother and stepfather heap advice and praise on David, I wondered what wisdom I might pass on to my son, Calvin, and I came up short. I hope he either learns all he needs in school or that I’m struck by inspiration and immeasurable wisdom sometime before May 2016.

My sister was there as well with her daughter and 15-month-old son, and I was reminded of that very special age and the responsibility of keeping kitchen cabinets secured, remote controls out of reach, small objects up high and naps. We have outgrown this stage of childhood in our home, and for this I am grateful, because even when I had my own 15-month-olds, I was unprepared for such responsibility. And because no matter how cute my nephew is, there is nothing adorable about wet Cheerios stuck to one’s flip-flops or the remote hidden among Tupperware … (read more)