How can children be so carefree? They are not stupid. We all know that kids are very smart. But they just chill, laugh, enjoy themselves wherever they are as if there is nothing wrong with this world. As if there are no wars, deceases, famines, abuse, pain, suffering, rude drivers, or cellulite.
Children are the embodiment of contentment in life.
I love watching my boys. I like it how they wake up in the morning, smiling, mysteriously full of energy, incessantly babbling away, their hair all messed up and eyes puffed up from their sleep.
They are ready to face the day. Ready to take in every wonder they encounter with their big beautiful eyes and massive eyelashes. Ready to comment on everything with impressive creativity of thought and pronunciation skills.
How do they do it? I can’t stop watching my boys and learning from them to enjoy life.
“Mum! Maamaa, look at that airplane in the sky. It is sooo high! Wow! And did you see that tree? Whoa. It is so big! And, mama, did you know there are googolplex stars in the sky (yes, this number exists; and yes, I learned it from my then 4-year-old son). And Shane can do this, look! Mama, is tato (daddy in Ukrainian) working at home today? I miss baba and deed (grandma and grandpa in Ukrainian). But mama, Lightning McQueen is the fastest. Can I have some apple juice, please? God is the oldest. Mama, can we go outside? Three plus two is five, right? I don’t like Blaze; he wins all the time. Mama, there is no gravity in space, so that’s why you float there!“
(Breath.)
This stream of consciousness is sweet music to my soul.
It’s these little random things I see through my children’s eyes that make life a wonder. All the shapes, and colors, and smells and sounds. Just pause and think about it a minute. Isn’t the world around you the strangest and the most interesting thing ever?
We live just once. Yes, I believe that after I die I will be with God in heaven. But who really knows where and what it will be like? Here and now is what we have. This heartache, that memory, this delicious cup of coffee and this heavenly crunchy cookie in my mouth is what I have.
I marvel at how jovial and blithe my kids’ outlook on life is. The trust they possess is astounding. They know that Sean and I will be there to take care of them, every day and night. They know we will feed them, clothe them, maybe brush their teeth, and maybe even twice a day. They know that they will have a great day playing, having fun, doing what they are so good at — living the life they have, right here and right now.
“Muuuum! Dragons are not real, right? Look at this spaceship I just made. Cool, huh? I am hungry. Girls like girls’ colors and boys like boys’ colors. Tato, you are a grown up big white boy…”
Oh, sweet music. Fill my heart and never stop helping me live in awe and wonder, right here and right now.
