A House Full of Talkers

Anyone who spends even the smallest amount of time with the Jeffcoats soon learns how much my boys like to make noise- all of them. Some of it is a boy-thing where they just like to hear themselves; but some of it is desiring to be heard. Having 3 3 and under presents great challenges in spending quality time with all of them throughout the day. And when they are constantly vying for your attention and wanting to be heard ALL AT THE SAME TIME- well, it's enough to make me want to go hide in the johnny closet with the light off! BUT (Isn't there always a big one of these?), how blessed I am when I do take the time to listen to each of them on their level. I have learned so much about them by just taking the time to slow down and watch them, interact with them, listen to them.. Those of you with only one child have yet to face this dilemma. It will come.
My Jonah is by far my sweetest challenge. He makes no bones about not wanting to do what he doesn't want to do. He has no qualms about pitching fits in public places or around strangers. Parenting books always tell you to let your child throw his tantrums and soon he will realize how no one is paying attention and stop- HA! My Jonah doesn't care if you're not watching, because his tantrums are not for you- they are for him. It's the way he releases his frustration and I let him. I do ignore him, much to the dismay of some passer-byers in the stores, but on the floor he flails. Tonight I got some time with Jonah alone. How sweet he was as he fed me the sacred popcorn and said, "It's almost gone, Mama. Eat it up." Something he has heard his dad and me say to him countless times. Piece by piece he puts the popcorn in my mouth and smiles- to able to serve me the way I have served him so often. Looking back on it all, I realize many times Jonah loses his temper because whoever he is with doesn't want to participate in his love language- service. It comes out through the playfulness of a child- shoving, taking a toy and running, kissing, feeding popcorn to a pooped out mom, etc. I got to see pure joy in his eyes when he was the center of Mom's attention and got to love the way he loves best. When I laid him in his bed, he wanted me to stay and look at his music thingy with him. He would have kept me all night; but alas, more Jeffcoat boys to care for...