This morning I woke up slowly. Normally my mornings start with a bang…a shout from Sophia, a blast from the alarm clock, a request from Calla for something to eat. This morning I woke up when I realized I was smiling.
Miss Calla had come to bed with us at some point during the night…she was running a fever and feeling rotten. At some point I must have rolled over onto my stomach and what was making me smile was a small hand rubbing back and forth over my shoulders and upper back.
Both of my girls have become used to touch and massage…probably because of my profession, but also because both Dean and I are touchers. Sophia’s favourite way to be put to bed is to have me sing ‘Dream a Little Dream’ or ‘Hush Little Baby’ while I play with her hair and stroke her forehead, cheeks, nose and chin. Calla likes to have her legs and scalp massaged and then always asks me to finish up by rubbing my hands together (so that my palms become really warm) and then placing my cupped hands over her eyes. The last two nights, because Calla was feeling punky, I rubbed her back so that she could relax. She closed her eyes and smiled, told me that it felt really nice and that she loved me.
This morning, Calla was awake before Dean and I even considered opening our eyes and starting the day. Calla’s fever-warm hand rubbing my back woke me before 7am and the first words I heard as I opened my eyes and ears to the day was Calla saying ‘Doesn’t that feel good Mommy? This is just how it feels when you rub my back. Don’t you love it?’ Then she rubbed her hands together really fast and placed them over my eyes for a few seconds before she dropped a kiss on my nose.
Really. If a Sunday morning must start before 7am, this is the way it should begin. I have had a smile on my face almost every moment since…
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Alison,I am smiling as I write this.What a "touching" moment,LOL This sweety is what your girls will remember about you,and this memory will stay with them above any memories about Mommy becoming short tempered because she gets over whelmed.You are Love,and you are teaching them to be about love. When next you feel anxious /or wish to throw Soph off a bridge,LOL just pull this memory back up and reread it.
Hope the day continues in such a pleasant way.Hugs
That is such a nice gentle way to be woken up by kids – we don\’t get the bounding into the bedroom stuff anymore now that the kids are older but we do have a resident masseuse – Holy Daughter – she has the midas touch, or so she claims.
We used to always have to rub Holy Son\’s back gently to get him to sleep – now he\’s just like me – even dare go to give him massage touch, and he recoils away in tickly giggle fits.
But starting a Sunday before 7am – ugh – that\’s not fun. Anyways, Calla sounds like a complete love bug.
Hopefully this is the start of a really smiley week.
I just spritzed my toilet and thought of you darlin.
love,
Mercy
This really is the sweetest thing. Isn\’t it nice to finally get some of those extra lovings back in return? And it\’s so much sweeter than the original gift, isn\’t it? Both of our oldest girls love to give us little gifts of touch now and now my oldest has hands that could work a knot out of the hind quarters of a moose (don\’t ask me where that came from!). Okay, I\’ve overdone myself now and I appologize for putting such an analogy into the comment of such a wonderful blog. I really don\’t know what\’s gotten into me lately. For some reason I\’ve got vulgarity and tickle-me-pinks just slipping out of every other sentence these days. Help! I have no control over these fingers and the thoughts that run through them.
And to top it off it decides Spaces decides to publish the comment twice! How\’s that for comic justice?
THose are the moments I cherish with Jenna, the sweet wide-open innocence. It\’s always bittersweet. Recently I started sobbing in front of Jenna because I was so happy because of her and she almost started crying because she was scared……she doesn\’t see me like that very often; vulnerable.
What a wonderful way to start your day, even though it was too early.
And if you are teaching your girls how to touch with love, respect, kindness, compassion … imagine the other wonderful things you are teaching them about their role in the world and the deep respect they must have for other people.
I wish Manny would return all those nice pets and back scratches I give him. hehe
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Hi Alison
What a sweet way to awake. It almost makes me wish I had children…no, no it really doesn\’t, but maybe I can train the cats to knead my back instead? I\’m glad the smile has lingered through your day.
I hear the Artic Circle has finally gone home and you are beginning to thaw out. Wowsers, talk about overstaying your welcome! I sure hope that\’s the end of winter now and we can start looking forward to complaining about mosquitos soon.
Hug hugs,
Barb
sounds adorable. and makes me want a back rub. I used to beg my dad to scratch my back every night growing up
Awe, that is very sweet and very smile provoking. What a great way to awaken on any morning.
I woke up this morning to S already gone, one boy having a bout with diarhea, and the other running in circles in the living room saying he wanted cereal. I was surprised S hadn\’t awakened me to say she was leaving and ever so glad for Mojo\’s whining. I had to get two of the boys ready for school this morning and there I was, just a snoozin\’ away, at 7:30.
Well, showers and cereal were attended to quickly and now we are just hangin\’ out, waiting for the bus, hoping to catch a glimpse of our neighbor, Mr. Patrick, as he is now back home from Arizona.
It\’s been a lickity-split kind of morning.
How I wish I had soft, warm hands and a quiet voice to awaken to…
We\’re very touchy around here, too–Scooter likes his little massages, and Emi\’s learning to like them, as long as Mama\’s hands aren\’t cold! Scooter will come up to me at random times and rub my back–it\’s adorable–there\’s nothing better than a little empathetic hand rubbing with love.
Oh my….. that makes me feel all warm inside… I think I love sleeping by my daughter more than my husband for that same feeling.
How fortunate you both are to be able to physically (and emotionally) connect like this! It\’s from memories like these that the bonds of filial love are formed. Be well,
J.
Alison,
It is entries like this that make it clear you shouldn\’t worry about how things will turn out. The love you show to the girls, clearly reciprocated, will take you through so much.
And feeling that early morning loving touch by such a tiny, trusting hand that wants nothing but to let you know you are loved? That\’s why Lala still gets to sleep with Mike and I so often.
Smiling
I have looked and looked for a definition for "al smooshe" and can\’t find one… but I knew exactly what you meant when I read it! lol
This entry was awesome!
Russ
What a sweet, sweet thing
What a wonderful entry…Warms my heart just reading it. Such wonderful things you are teaching your kids…
Thanks for the lecture recommendation. I\’ll be sure to check it out when I have a free hour. Be well,
J.
Alison,I just had to stop by and tell you that you made me laught today,I so Love your comments,whether at my space or someone elses.I never fail to read when I see that happy skier image in a line of comments.Today it was Zwebby\’s place,and the diatribe about piecing together noodles like a jigsaw puzzle.LOL Thanks for the lift,I can\’t wait to hear about life at gelati farms.
Much, much love to you, Dean, the girls and the whole family, Alison. I\’m thinking of you all.
Stopping by to say hello! I hope all is well with you and yours.