The Note That Broke My Heart
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My dear sweet beautiful boy,My amazing 7-year-old boy who has grown so tall and so mature in the past year that I find myself begging each day that passes to slow down,My incredibly kind and patient boy who has never met a kid he didn't like, whose very goofy-toothy grin makes my heart flutter, who plays both the protector and tormentor of his little sister so well,
YOU are not 'stoopid'.You made a poor decision to hit your sister out of frustration for hugging a little too tightly when you got home because she missed you.And then you were on the receiving end of mommy's bad day, who shouted at you too loudly when your sister cried. Even though it was a momentary lapse and your sister cries at everything, I shouted.Your slunk to your room - your safe haven among baseball cards and LEGOs - and you sulked.You made mommy's heart sink when after 20 minutes of my stomping around, I found that little note you wrote for me and left on my nightstand. It made mommy cry.*I* was the one being STOOPID.You made mommy remember. Remember that when I get home, it isn't about ME. It's about YOU, your sis and our family.You made me remember that even on MY bad days, MY JOB at home is to put those bad moments away. To refocus on us. That I'm allowed to have those bad days and recover from them on my time, but NOT yours. Because you are my important boy. My special boy. And you have nothing to do with what happens in my adult world nor should you have to worry about it.You allowed me to knock on your door softly and call your name. And you let me in.I didn't know what to say, because I felt ashamed for taking out my frustration on you. But you let me snuggle your head into my chest and run my fingers through your curls. I told you I loved you and I was sorry.After a minute, you popped right up and said 'it's okay mom.' You forgave me.But even more powerful was what I heard you say a minute later to your sister: Mom yelled and she was wrong, but she said sorry. Saying sorry is really really important. But you know what else is really really important Em? Forgiving moms because you love them and you have to forgive because no one should have a bad day.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jeanine Bobenmoyer – like many moms – wears numerous hats including wife, mother of 2, trail runner, yoga-addict, Michigan native, die-hard Wolverines fan, Thai food enthusiast and avid reader. After years spent in the world of advertising agencies, she now curbs her Mad Men tendencies as a Communications Manager for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.Jeanine is also the Chief Mom Officer and Founder of theCityMoms. You’ll find Jeanine on Twitter, Instagramand in the sale section at Anthropologie.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]