Counting to 556

The other day Eli and I counted to 556. That's as far as we got before the distraction of running water finally overtook him and he traded counting for rinsing the dishes. It reminded me to be so very thankful that the Lord is so smart! He knows how distracted mom's can get so he has all kinds of safety nets hardwired into our kids. When the older kids were beginning their school careers I took great pride in the wonderful job I was doing as mother of the year - sending them off to school ahead of schedule - prepared in every way. I was the mom who read to them every night and practiced letters and numbers and sounds until they could recite them in their sleep. I was the mom who dropped everything to sit with them and go over every homework problem supplementing with problems of my own to solidify concepts. They were more than ready for Kindergarten! It is as I have sent the youngest few of our children off to kindergarten with an underlying guilt for not having them better prepared that I have learned a great lesson. The Lord has equipped the developing brain with an incredible capacity to learn and by doing so he makes up for the gaps left by busy moms. Eli is a sponge! He goes to school not knowing something and comes home knowing it. I was thankful to learn that by the second month of school the younger kids were all caught up and where the older kids were. I know, I know, every kid is different and they all have different learning styles and schedules, but I'm just saying their little minds are primed to absorb unnatural amounts of information in the span of 5 years and it is truly a miracle to watch this happen.

I am thankful for the innate desire my children have to learn and I am so thankful the Lord has placed in them the ability to make up for all of my shortcomings and I am thankful someone still wants me to read to them every night.