This morning, apparently inspired exactly in the moment between pajamas and clothing, my gloriously naked 5 year old son, Ezra Star, came running through the house to find me, and breathlessly leapt with all his 50-something pounds into my arms: "GUESS WHAT, Mama?" Laughing at his juicy enthusiasm, I said "Tell Me: What is it?!"
His eyes sparkling, he said: "This is what I know: I am a GREAT runner! And I can wear tie shoes now to school because I can tie my own shoes by my own self! And I even TAUGHT myself that, no one even had to teach me!! And I am also a really good swimmer for a 5 year old. I'm also getting pretty good at wiping my own self most of the time! I am learning about my skateboard, and I can do new turning tricks which is scary but really cool! AND, at my school? I've got a lot of friends! I love everybody and my teacher too and even my own self I love!!" Catching his own enthusiastic breath, he sighed deeply and pressed his heart into mine, squeezing and hugging me tight.
"WOW!" I said. "Your heart is just bursting this morning, my love! It is SO beautiful to hear everything you are loving about yourself! That makes my heart feel really happy." He pulled away and looked at me beaming, knowingly, his naked body wriggling with joy: "That's even ANOTHER thing good about me, Mom: I'm really good for people's hearts!" Laughing, I said "That is for sure, my Love!" as he bounced down, and pounced out of sight, leaving me reveling in the exquisite confidence of a 5 year boy~ working so hard on all these new tasks: Running, and shoe-tying, swimming and wiping, and sharing his heart in simply amazing ways.
And I realized: how humbly aware we become in adulthood of our own shortcomings, sobered by our mistakes and failures and ever-challenging growing edges; how glorious to pause for a moment and celebrate our own even miniscule accomplishments, our own shining gifts and simple beauty! Thank you my sweet boy. What a true teacher you are.
His eyes sparkling, he said: "This is what I know: I am a GREAT runner! And I can wear tie shoes now to school because I can tie my own shoes by my own self! And I even TAUGHT myself that, no one even had to teach me!! And I am also a really good swimmer for a 5 year old. I'm also getting pretty good at wiping my own self most of the time! I am learning about my skateboard, and I can do new turning tricks which is scary but really cool! AND, at my school? I've got a lot of friends! I love everybody and my teacher too and even my own self I love!!" Catching his own enthusiastic breath, he sighed deeply and pressed his heart into mine, squeezing and hugging me tight.
"WOW!" I said. "Your heart is just bursting this morning, my love! It is SO beautiful to hear everything you are loving about yourself! That makes my heart feel really happy." He pulled away and looked at me beaming, knowingly, his naked body wriggling with joy: "That's even ANOTHER thing good about me, Mom: I'm really good for people's hearts!" Laughing, I said "That is for sure, my Love!" as he bounced down, and pounced out of sight, leaving me reveling in the exquisite confidence of a 5 year boy~ working so hard on all these new tasks: Running, and shoe-tying, swimming and wiping, and sharing his heart in simply amazing ways.
And I realized: how humbly aware we become in adulthood of our own shortcomings, sobered by our mistakes and failures and ever-challenging growing edges; how glorious to pause for a moment and celebrate our own even miniscule accomplishments, our own shining gifts and simple beauty! Thank you my sweet boy. What a true teacher you are.
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