Childhood Memories and Heavenly Promptings

When I was in junior high and high school there were a few times when going to school was not going to happen.  It was usually after a particularly difficult week with classes and assignments that I would hit a wall.   Because of my mom's poor health it was always my dad who got us all up and going in the mornings.  My mom would handle things with us after school.  But, my dad would wake me up for school, take one look at me and he just knew that I would be staying home.  Now, keep in mind, this happened very rarely, in fact, I can probably count the number of times this happened on one hand.  I'm sure that's the only reason I got away with it.  It seemed I would sleep until 10:30 or 11:00 and then my mom would wake me up and tell me to get ready to go.  Then she would take me to lunch or to shop together.  Looking back, I'm guessing she knew what I really needed and took advantage of the time we had to be together, just the two of us. 

Fast forward more years than I care to count, to this past Thursday.  Ethan was up getting ready for school and I immediately recognized that look in his face that I used to have.  Before he even opened his mouth, I knew he wouldn't be going to school.  The only problem was that I HAD to be at work that day and so did Jared.  So, I set him up in his room with a cell phone, some books and a remote control helicopter.  Whether we liked it or not, this little guy was going to have to stay home by himself for three hours.  Now, please don't judge me for leaving him home alone.  I have enough of my own guilt because of this for all of us, so let's leave that for another day and another blog post.

He slept the first hour and a half that I was gone and then he began texting me.  At first, he was trying to trick me into thinking he was Abby, then he was telling me jokes.  I found out later he was texting Jared as well.  The kid really is funny.  He never ceases to make me laugh.

About 45 minutes before I was scheduled to leave to come home, I remembered those days when I would stay home from school.  I thought about Ethan and his great need for a mental health day and knew what I needed to do.  I called Ethan on my way home and told him to get ready to go.  Then we headed to our favorite spot, Rita's,

We talked all the way to Rita's, while we ate our delicious frozen custard and then on the way home.  I learned so many things about him and his new found interests.  For example, I always knew he wanted to be a Major League soccer player, but on Thursday I learned that if that doesn't work out he would like to be a comedian.  Get this, in his own words, "I think being a comedian might be hard on a family since comedians work at night, so if that doesn't work out I would like to be a doctor, a pilot or a car designer."  He also told me about all the places he would like to go on his mission.  He told me some more jokes and we had such fun laughing together.  When we got home he gave me a big hug and said, "Thanks, Mom.  We haven't been able to do something just the two of us in a long time.  That was really fun."  I couldn't agree more. 

I don't know if it's just me or if it's because he's my only son or if all moms of little boys feel this way, but there is a special place in my heart for only this little guy.  He is so sweet, kind mischievous, funny and caring.  He has such a big heart and it makes me melt inside.   It's incredibly amazing and wonderful to me that we have a loving Heavenly Father that is so involved in the details of our lives.  I'm so grateful for the prompting he sent me to spend some extra time with my little man and so grateful that I chose to listen.