I love sitting down with him on my lap and reading him a story or two. He points to the pictures and turns the page when it's time.
This past week he's also loved taking his turn reading to me. After I finish a book, he flips it back open and starts jabbering while he strokes the pages. I ate it up the first few times, but then my mind wandered to all the things I could be getting done instead of sitting there. I knew if I left him there to read on his own he would happily entertain himself for a few more minutes, and those moments of un-interrupted cleaning are rare.
But then I thought about how beautiful a thing it is to sit and listen to my son. I want him to talk to me his whole life long, knowing that I will always listen. I've often pondered how I can make sure Palmer knows I love him and am there for him, and the answer is to be there now.
Yes, he's just a baby. And I doubt that he'll remember me holding him while he reads to me. But I felt the spirit whisper to me that he will remember the feeling of being listened to if I continue to do this. And how wonderful will it be for him to one day say to himself that he cannot remember a time when I wasn't there for him.
After all, that's what this is all about. That's why I'm a stay-at-home mom. Because I am going to be there for him, from the beginning to the end. What a gift in both our lives that is.
