Will You Play With me?
8.30.2008
My son Nicholas is two- years- old. Not a day goes by that he does not repeatedly ask, “Momma, will you play with me?" If only you could hear his sweet voice. How I dread the day when he no longer asks this poignant question. Will you play with me? Simple words uttered by a two- year- old speak volumes about his conceptualization of the world and others. He values play. He values connection. He wants to be a part of something bigger than himself. Life is better when shared with another and he fully expects that others want to play with him. Why wouldn’t they? How I love his innocence.
I wish I could tell you, the reader, that each time he asks, I eagerly oblige his request. Sadly, I do not. Tears come to my eyes when I think about the many times I have replied, “In a minute” or “When I’m done.” And yet, in his sweet innocence, he continues to ask.
At what point in our lives do we interpret someone else’s actions to mean something about ourselves? At what point in our lives do we become hurt, take perceived rejection personally, and pull back or withdraw? At what point in our lives do we stop asking and expecting to receive what we want? Momma, will you play with me?
Yes, my sweet Nicholas, I will.
- We are meaning- making machines. We do ourselves a disservice when we make another person’s actions (or lack of) mean something about us.
- Be present and grateful for the simple moments in your life. In the final analysis, these are the moments you will miss, yearn for, and want so much to return to.
- Our children are our greatest teachers.
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