The greatest thing just occurred at the twins bedtime. I am so happy it happened on a significant day because I will forever remember this every Easter for the rest of my life!!
I’ll preface with saying- Yesterday Mom had a huge Passover dinner at her home. We have a Jewish/Christian family and celebrate both holidays. The night was amazing…especially the part during the passover prayer when my son grabbed the mic and started singing “Baby” by Justin Bieber followed by “Jesus Loves Me”. HAHAHAHA Anyways…Ashley’s best friend Mila who we have grown up with, has a niece Priya. Priya and the twins FINALLY met last night. Along with a bunch of other kids.
Then tonight happened….
They were laying in bed and we were saying our goodnights when Raimy says “mama, can you call Auntie Mila?”
“Sure. What do you want me to tell her?”
“No, I need to talk to her”
I get my phone and start to dial. “What are you going to say?”
“I just need to talk to her about something.”
I put it on speaker and hand him the phone.
“Hello”
“Hi Auntie Mila, It’s me Raimy”
“Hello Raimy”
“I want to talk to you about something”
“Okay”
“I have become best friends with Priya and I want to have a playdate.”
at which point she is laughing…
“Okay well I will set something up.”
“Are you with her?”
“No actually I just left her house”
“Can I have her number?”
“You want her number?” cracking up but speaking very ‘adult’ with him
“Yes I want to talk to her”
“Well, I will give your mommy her number and…” a bit caught off gaurd by his boldness perhaps, she tries to think of how to handle the situation.
“Because I want to call her right now”
“Okay Raimy. Stay by the phone. I’m going to call her mom and have Priya call you.”
“Okay Bye”
He hangs up and quietly waits. I am doing my best not to lose it! How cute!
The phone rings moments later.
“Hello Priya” is how he answers! hahaha
“Hi”
“This is Raimy. We became best friends at the Easter party. I was the one wearing a vest?”
“I remember you Raimy, we talked about dragons”
“Yes. I want to do a play date at your house and I wanna hear you talk more about dragons”
“Okay”
“Then we will have another play date and you will come to my house”
“Okay”
“Okay my sister wants to talk to you”
“Hi Priya it’s Saylor. Remember we played princesses?”
“I remember”
“Can I come on the playdates too?”
“Yes”
They all start giggling at the prospect of hanging out.
Raimy gets the phone abruptly
“Well we have to go to bed now. See you at the play date. Bye”
“Bye”
He hangs up and asks me to call Mila back. It goes to voicemail and Saylor grabs the phone but gets nervous at the beep. “What should I say?”
Raimy grabs the phone. “thank you Auntie Mila for having Priya call me” click
I take my phone back and can’t help but have a huge smile and a laugh
“Why are laughing mama?”
“I’m just proud of you”
“Why?”
“You met someone you like and figured out on your own how to reach her and by yourself invited her over. That was so bold. That is very brave. It is good to go for the things you want.”
“I always go for the things I want….but sometimes I can’t have them.”
“Like What??!!”
“Like I want to break dance and do gymnastics and I say that all the time but you haven’t taken me to a class”
hahahahhaa
“Raim, I need to be more like you and go after the things I want and also help you achieve the things you want. I am going to call and find you a class first thing in the morning!”
“Okay mamma…I love you”
At which point I snuggled into my mini man who is literally growing before my eyes. I squeeze him in hopes of keeping him tiny but his inner man is too powerful..haha.
Side note-I’m reading an amazing book/manifesto by Seth Godin called Stop Stealing Dreams. It’s an incredible read for parents or anyone who wants to be a parent or anyone who has anything to do with kids. I heard Seth speak on TED.com (Another site I highly recommend…although it will suck you in for hours) and he really gets you thinking. Go to Stop Stealing Dreams and he lets you download it for FREE!! The book is about the school system and how the formula destroys our dreams and drive. He has a entry titled “Dreams are difficult to build and easy to destroy” This sentence has stayed with me all day. A tiny spark of a dream can be squelched so easily.
He says that “a dream or a talent is frightening. If you deny one, you are off the hook. And being off the hook is a key element in industrialized schooling. It let’s parents off the hook since the institution takes on the schooling. It lets teachers off the hook since the curriculum is preordained and the results are tested. And it lets the students off the hook because the road is clearly marked and the map is handed to everyone. If you stay on the the path and it doesn’t pan out…. the future is not your fault.”
What the heck does any of this have to do with my little boy and his conversation? It’s a stretch… I know. But when I am reading something, I kind of filter my entire day through that mindset….Much like if I watch an action film I walk out of the theater feeling like a secret agent… come on you know you do it too!!!
My not yet molded toddler had no fear of failure and went after what he wanted. He hasn’t been told yet what he should and shouldn’t feel about most things. A bold yet still blank little slate….. I never want my little dreamers and go getters to be told they can’t achieve something. Sorry, random tangent-y rant. I am just overcome with the thought that these young years are so important….. a bit daunting…. I hope to make the right decisions for and with them. I hope to be the best advocate I can be. I want to keep that innocence and fearlessness alive….It’s scary being a parent:)
