The thing about Kids – Part One

A few weeks ago, our travels took Liam and I northward to Person County then westward to Caswell before heading back south towards home.  A journey that would have taken us days back when some of the trees we laid our eyes on were just seedlings themselves, over in a matter of hours. Liam won’t remember that adventure. Me, on the other hand – I hope it’s part of that flash of memories I see when my life comes to a close. That’s the thing about kids – they follow us anywhere; they love us for who we are; they make life better.

I can’t recall a time in my life when kids haven’t been around.  For that, I am more fortunate than some will ever know.  First it was my cousin Ethan back in the 90s, followed by Jacob.  Ethan gave me my first experience with projectile vomiting on my PawPaws front porch one Thanksgiving. Then, my nephew Ashton came along in 2000.  That’s when I got pretty good at changing dirty diapers and first met SpongeBob Squarepants.  At about the same time our cousins Alan and Kyle made their appearance in this world! Today, Liam rings out the same “Ohhhhhh….who lives in a Pineapple….” that Ashton did way back then.  Well, at least the “Oh…” part anyway. I got a little bit better with diapers and crying babies with my nephew Jordan later down the road.  I got better still in 2009 when my own little girl, Savanna Belle, came along.  My nephew Matthew showed up a year later.  Liam came along on December 2nd, 2017.  Last night we celebrated his birthday a bit early. This morning he awoke well before the sun just itching (more like crying) to break in his basketball goal and drive his new matchbox cars over the “mountain” that is Kim’s belly in its current state – now 9 months pregnant with his brother, Raylan Rip.

Over the next few weeks our family will grow by one – Kim’s c-section is scheduled for December 27th. Personally, I think the new addition to our family will arrive earlier than that. When he does, Liam, who has spent the last two years as a little brother will now also hold the title of big brother. Savanna, she’ll become big “sissy” all over again. If you ask me, she’s taken on her new role with flying colors, after spending 8 of her 10 years as the only child.

So what happens next? That’s the thing about kids – you never really know. They surprise you, make you laugh, can most definitely bring you to tears (of joy you hope), and will almost certainly make you pull your hair out at times. Their little feet can make the loudest of noises when darting back and forth through the house. Their screeches will run shivers down your spine. The messes they make will keep you busy cleaning up behind them – some stains and scratches will come out, others will not. One day, they might just decide to jump head first into your pond a few years too early and give you the scare of your life. The next, they’re 10 years old and swimming like a fish. They’ll go to work with you, help you plant food plots, and put out corn for the deer. They’ll sleep in when you prefer they get up early and they’ll get up early when you prefer they sleep in. They’ll do something so mischievous that you’ll be wanting to spank the tar out of them. Then, they’ll give you that little smile that only they can give and leave you wanting to spank yourself for even considering the thought of spanking them. That’s the thing about kids – they’ll make you lose your religion and attain a better understanding of the power of God’s Grace all at the same time.

At the end of it all, you won’t find yourself thinking about the nicks on the wall, the spots on the carpet, or the many things that kids somehow manage to break. The “things” in life won’t matter at all. That’s the thing about kids – they give you a reason to believe and the inspiration needed to be the best version of yourself that you can hunt down.