When I arrived this Thursday, Tatum was sitting on the floor in her bedroom with a pile of socks. Usually, she greets me at the front door and is excited. Today started off a little somber as I understood that she had kind of a rough day at her summer camp. So I ask what are you doing? She said I’m organizing my socks. She held up some different sox and described them to me. She showed me how she pairs them up and slips one inside the other. I’m thinking – wow! My 19yr old son hasn’t quite mastered this skill yet? Anyway, Tatum tells me she’s going to “Ruffle” me if I keep teasing her – – cute! …and so we start going about our evening together.
In life, every once in a great while, some little thing can happen that will make you pause. A momentary window opens to see inside – an unobstructed view. A gift from God. This would be such a moment. Mind you, I’ve been taking care of Tatum on Thursday evenings for almost a year and an half so Steph can go to GCU and teach her classes on campus, so I am fortunate to experience some of these moments with Tatum.
Tatum walks back over to the socks still on the floor and says to me, my mommy just told me to pick up the socks and she started to put them away. I say, what do you mean that your mommy just told you to put the socks away. She said, my mommy talks to me in my brain and she told me to finish and pick up the socks. She talks to me all of the time even when she’s not here. I say, what does she say? Oh, when she’s away, she says to me, Tatum, I’m coming home now! …I’m coming home now! …I’m coming home now! I say, what else does she say? My mommy tells me: Always to your best and don’t give up! Do you best and don’t give up! In the morning when I’m alone after I wake up, She tells me, Tatum, don’t wake me up before 7! Tatum tells me again: yeah, my mommy talks with me all of the time in my brain.
As parents we wonder how we’re doing and if they hear what we are teaching them. Heck, we wouldn’t be good parents without this introspection. My dear Steph, from my vantage point, you are an incredible Mom! Take heart, she hears EVERYTHING you teach her.
We both love you!