Sweet Little Eli

 Sweet little Eli has always been very attached to his Mama, a "phase" that I keep thinking will surely end soon.  He's refused to go to his church class for over a year now.  At first I forced him to go and Jaron would go with him.  Every week it was the horriblly emotional separation for him so after awhile I decided I wasn't going to force him - that he would go on his own when he was ready to go.  That was fine when I was a CTR 7 teacher and he could just come along to my class.  Now that I'm the primary chorister, it's been a little more trying to have my four- almost five-year-old tugging at my skirt while I'm trying to lead and teach music!  

Lately he's been more attached than ever; refusing to go anywhere without me, even to preschool or to friends' houses or to birthday parties.  At the gym he refuses to go to child care and instead sits in the corner of the room while I run on the treadmill.  He's always been a Mama's boy but it's never been this bad.  Awhile ago my father-in-law pointed out that he's had a lot of changes in his short little life (he's lived in two countries and three different states!) and the only constant thing has been me (Jaron often puts in long days).  That insight helped me to have some patience with his need to be near me but lately I've about gone over the edge!  I don't know if it's because Jaron's been gone so much or because over the last few weeks he came and went, then came and went, then came and went again.  Whatever the reasons behind it, it has been a trying few weeks!

Today Eli and I had the opportunity to go to Hallmark to do a research study together.  We dropped Gracen off at a friend's house and went a little early so that we could hit a candy store we knew was nearby.  It was so neat to spend the afternoon with just Eli - that certainly hasn't happened very often!!  He was a little chatterbox the entire time.  He talked the entire drive into downtown.  When we got there, he talked about things he was imagining as we walked along: that the sidewalk cracks would open up and swallow the buildings, that the smeared art on the wall was because a tornado was about to swallow up the buildings in the picture, etc.  He has quite the imagination!  He had a great time being able to pick out whatever he wanted at the candy store. The one-on-one time helped us to reconnect in an unhurried way and I'm absolutely grateful that I got to spend this afternoon with my sweet little Eli!

Being with him reminded me of how a few weeks ago we had walked to Wal-mart (less than a mile from our house).  On the way there, we noticed how much garbage was caught in the trees of the park we walk by.  When we passed a big paint bucket, Eli said, "We should pick up the garbage and put it into that bucket."  I told him that it was a good idea and that we could do it on the way back if we hurried.  So Eli chose not to look at the toys at the store so that we could have enough time to pick up the garbage.  On the way home, we filled the bucket and then some!  I was so proud of my little guy.  Then when we got home, I was telling him what a good choice he had made that day and he said, "Is that like choosing the right?"  Haha, yes it is, Eli!

I sure love my sweet little Eli!