I watch you, Jackson.
I watch you watching your dad.
I watch you growing up and into him, crawling underneath his skin. I see how you yearn to know more and more of him and how you would sleep legs slung over him every night if he’d let you. Watching you I learn what it is to be a son and I get a glimpse into the remarkable view of being a father to boys.
I hear you. I hear the two of you spinning tales of spiderman and super heroes and even with my eyes closed I can see yours – blue as your Grandpa Rous’ – brimming with delight at story after story of good guys beating up on the bad. I know your dad is dog tired, it’s 9.30 at night and still there he is sprawled out next to you on the playroom floor in between the scattered puzzles and bits and pieces of the airplane you are building. Your voice carries because you never stop talking. And you keep coaxing your dad into the next story, the next puzzle, the next lego.
His low chuckle rumbles back to me here in the bedroom.
So I give it to you. These hours when you should be in bed. I give them to you to spend with your dad and without your little brother. Just the two of you. I know a growing boy needs that. Like he needs second, third, fourth helpings of food between dinner time and lights out. He needs to chew on the company of his father. And I don’t need a camera to remind me of nights like these. I am full of the memory – from my ears to my tippy toes. I will remember and feel this same smile tugging at my cheeks.
The crooked smile that you and I share.
And that you give to your dad. Night after night after very late night.
Oh this is so sweet. When reading this I saw my own son with his three son’s. There is something about boys and their dad’s. Enjoy the moments they go by so fast. My son is 35 now and a wonderful awesome man.
take care and thanks for sharing.
… and ten, twenty, thirty years from now Jackson will be able to view the character of God as One who gives His children good things, listens when Jackson prays, celebrates Jackson’s triumphs and mourns over Jackson’s tears… five months or two years from now when Jackson reaches up chubby fingers towards heaven he will understand that he was made by a Father who will reach down, pick him up, swing him around, and love him for just who he is…
:)
You had me here: I watch you growing up and into him, crawling underneath his skin.
My boy is now 11 and looks me straight in the eye when we talk. He is his father’s son. A spitting image if there ever was one. I tell people that if I hadn’t been there when he was born, I wouldn’t believe he was mine. He is so much his daddy.
I watch them together and I remind my daughters, “You get to pick your children’s daddy.” It was one of the best choices I ever made.
It sounds like you made a great choice yourself. Bless you and your family!
Beautiful. Breathtakingly so.
I’m not sure why you don’t come to my inbox anymore. I need to change that. I’ve missed the poetry you bring to life.
Its the same here in my home but with daddy and his girls, they all love there special time with him and of course with me. One on one time is so special xxx
I know exactly what this looks like, because I watch it too, and sometimes wish that I had that same connection. But it’s special, that father-son connection, and so important. What a sweet reminder of how special it is.
See you in less than 2 weeks!!
Jenny
So sweet. This time goes by so fast. Enjoy and prolong them for as long as you can!