My son is high maintenance. He's not high maintenance like I was. (What? Ironed pillowcases make for a better night's sleep, and my mom loved to iron.) He's high maintenance to the extent that it is impossible to run him out of energy. We once took him on a 6 mile hike that was up a mountain both ways. After the hike, he was cartwheeling to the car. Also, he never ever stops talking and requires constant input.
Sometimes I will go sit in the bathroom for a moment of peace. He will come sit right outside the door and continue talking.
Some days all the activity and talking and input leave me feeling raw. By the end of the day, if my husband tries to touch me or talk to me, I will jump out of my skin.
I thought things would calm down when he got older. Still, at 9, he bounces off the walls. Literally. Sometimes he will just start running with all his might and bounce off the wall. And still, at 9, he narrates his life. Even when he is playing his computer games or watching t.v., he's talking.
But in the midst of it all, he is sweet and smart and funny and empathetic. Nevertheless, I couldn't do it again.
Yesterday, I brought him running with me. This never works. There is much mushroom kicking and stick throwing and tree climbing. Nevertheless, he really wanted to run with me. Okay, I thought, we will try this again.
And he ran with me. We ran fifteen minutes straight without stopping. Just running. My son was running right beside me. Then he had run as far as he could go and was ready to turn around. He reached out for my hand and we held hands and walked through the park - IN SILENCE. We were just walking. Holding hands.
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Thank you for this post, because it means: there's hope for silence in my future! Huzzah! Six years in my future, but hey, I'll take it!
ReplyDeleteThis is so sweet. My daughter is ADHD and it's so hard to get her to calm down long enough to enjoy the simple things. Sometimes though she'll just want a hug or a high five. In those few moments all is right in our little world. :) XOXO
ReplyDeleteThank you for your lovely comments. One of the reasons that I blog is to connect with other people sharing the same experiences. I hope that your day with your children is filled with beautiful moments. Love, AG
ReplyDeleteLove this post. Can see you holding hands with your son and enjoying the silence.
ReplyDeleteI, too, have a quiet-challenged son. I once paid him $5 to sit and be still and silent for ten minutes. "Hey! Let's make it a game! The SILENT GAME!" $5 well spent, if you ask me. I am waiting for Dr. Spock's people to call me and do the footnotes for their updated parenting book.