making time to swing

One of my goals during Josh's absence was to make time to really invest in the hearts of my children.  I know I'm with them every day - helping them get dressed, moving them from one place to another, reminding them to wash hands, reminding them to be kind, teaching them how to read, spelling words for the tenth time....

...but, it takes extra time to invest in their hearts. It takes extra time to explain something rather than say, "let's talk about it later."  It takes extra time to do the things they want to do.  It takes extra time to ask them questions that draw out their emotions and feelings.  And sometimes, it takes a lot of extra time just to "be" together - with no reading lessons to do, nothing to review, nothing to accomplish.

One morning, I took the girls to preschool, and after dropping samantha off in her class, I gave this option to emma:

You can either choose to go to class, or you can choose to do something fun with mommy.  Just you and me.  

It's a good thing she chose me, because that's what I was planning on!  

We went and bought some chocolate donuts and milk (and somehow, $20 more of other stuff I didn't even know I needed).  We went to the beautiful apartment complex where their preschool is and had a donuts and milk picnic.  I asked her questions.  She confided in me.  [Well, that's a bit overdoing it.  She told me she gets tired of answering questions from curious strangers over and over again.  But she told it in a really heartfelt and sincere way, so I think it's safe for that to be labeled it as "confiding"...right?!]

We found a baby ladybug.  We held hands while we walked through the rambling and landscaped paths.  Then we played on the playground together.  

And instead of pushing emma on the swing, we practiced her actually doing it herself.  I usually never have the time or undivided attention to devote to this activity, but today I did.  The swing kept us happily occupied until it was time to pick up Samantha.  

There was nothing earth-shattering about our outing, but my heart was blessed just spending time with Emma.   No expectations.  No agenda.  No time restrictions.  

Just swinging.