Backseat Yoda

Have you ever been in a huff?  You know, when you just need to rewind yourself, hit delete, and then click resume and pray that you have a better attitude?  We all have those mornings (or days) when our grouchiness affects our face, friends, and family.  I was having one of those days. Well, I was having two or three of those days, actually.  And, the reasons, which seem much more like excuses, are a bit pitiful.  But, thankfully, I was let loose of the grumbly, unfriendliness by Young Mister Jackson.

It was around 5 o’clock in the evening, and we were out and about tending to some errands.  He and Tucker were riding along in the car, sitting in their car seats, and just singing some Wiggles songs.  It was so cute hearing them full throttle sing their favorite songs. And in the quietness of my mind I remember thinking, “Oh, they’re so awesome!  Ok, now, what is my plan for when we get home?  We need to do dinner, get in pajamas, read, brush teeth, and all the rest.”  And Jackson asking if I could turn the music down interrupted my thought.  “Hey mom, can you turn it down.  I need to talk to ya about something.  We really, really need to have a talk.”  I said, “Absolutely, brother.  What’s up?!”  I was not emotionally, spiritually, or physically prepared for what I was about to encounter as this four-year-old Yoda shared his heart with me as we drove along.

“Mom, I need you to look in my eye balls because we gotta talk about something that’s really, supery, dooperie important”, he said.  So, as when anything in the car is supery, dooperie important, the rear view mirror is immediately adjusted so I can see his face.  Once that was set, he was able to continue. “Ok, yeah, that’s better.  Mom, I really, really need to tell ya something.  It makes me sad when you’re mad all the time.  It makes me really, really, REALLY sad”, as he did the sign for ‘sad’ over and over again. (Yes, Jackson and Tucker know a bit of sign language. And, no, they are not deaf.)  “And, Mom, it makes Tucker really sad too.  We don’t want you to be mad all the time A-N-Y-M-O-R-E.  Not any. Not never.  Not AT ALL.  It’s just not like Jesus, ya know!?  It’s not like we talk about all the time with treat others the way we want treated, you know?!  SO!  Don’t be mad anymore.  Just be happy, and kind, and nice, and fun, and play with us all the time.  That’s all.  Just be happy like Jesus, OK?!”  

In this moment, there was any number of responses that I suppose I could have had.  I mean, you know how YOU feel after reading THAT!  How would you have responded?

I simply found myself humbly nodding.  “You’re absolutely right, Jackson”, I affirmed his assessment.  “I have been so grouchy and short with you and Tucker, and I absolutely need to be more happy and kind”, I said.  There was nothing else really to be said because Jackson was spot on.  I needed to do an about face and change my behavior….much the same way I expect Jackson and Tucker to change their behavior.  So, after apologizing, I said, “Hey brother, I’m so glad you shared your heart with me and knew that we needed talk.  So, thanks for having this talk with me.  I really need it.”  “That’s alright, Mom.  Sometimes we just need to talk it out so we can do things better”, he reminded me.  

I’m so grateful to have a four year old who can teach ME in love and grace.  I only hope I can do the same!  We spent the rest of that evening out in the kiddie sprinklers playing basketball with the plastic baby pool as the basket. And, I decided that it certainly was much for fun to “not be mad all the time”.