Ben's heart
I keep tucking away little mental notes in the back my mind of all the sweet and kindhearted things Ben does, anticipating that eventually I will get them written down. Lately, they come multiple times a day, and they are so genuine and a part of his nature, that it almost makes me cry at times. It's little things that he does; kind words that he offers, or ways that he jumps in to help with a willing attitude and heart, or the forgiveness he offers, or how he takes care of Meredith. It requires no effort on his part, there is no pride or self-motivation attached, he is looking for no accolades or attention. And that BLOWS. ME. AWAY. He truly is a special boy.
A few simple examples of late....
Meredith wouldn't pick up her bag of foam letters. I told her multiple times, over the course of about 20 minutes, that we couldn't and wouldn't go to our play date until she picked them up. A few minutes after I had last asked her to pick them up, I heard her say, "Oh thank you, Ben." Ben was down on his hands and knees quietly picking up her letters without complaint, without being asked to help.
Similarly, a few weeks ago we were walking through Target and I had bought both Ben and Meredith a little box of gum. Right in the middle of the storage and organization aisle, Meredith dumped her entire box of gum. It went flying everywhere - out in the main aisle, under the bottom shelves, in between the shelves. Meredith almost burst into tears, fearing my reaction, but before she could even get a sound out of her mouth, Ben darted to the floor, got down on his hands and knees, and started to quickly gather every single piece of gum. He brought it over to her with a simple "Here, Mer. I got it all." He just reacts instinctively to drop down on his hands and knees to help.
Earlier this week, on Wednesday, Paul had a sales party with Rambow and was going to be home really late. To break up the evening (and let's be honest, so I wouldn't have to figure out something to cook for dinner), I decided to take the kids to O'Neils (a bar and restaurant in Spicer). Based on past history, I bought 2 cheeseburger baskets for 3 kids. Meredith and I ran to the bathroom and when we came out, Luke and Ben each had a cheeseburger basket sitting in front of them. Without me saying a word, Ben took one of his two mini cheeseburgers and said "Here, Mer!" and handed her one of them. Then, a few minutes later, he slid half a pickle over to her. He had eaten half of it, then offered the other half to Meredith. Meredith didn't want it so I asked Ben, "Don't you want it?" He replied, "Yeah, I want it." He took it back and ate it. What I love about that little story is that he didn't just offer it to Meredith because he didn't want it anymore. He WANTED to eat the entire pickle. But as he took bites and monitored when it was close to halfway eaten, he kindly offered it to his sister.
At Sunday school a few weeks ago, each kid received a bagful of of treats and candy. A little girl named Brielle dropped her bag of candy and it dumped on the floor. A few people around her, including her mom and I, helped her pick it all up. A few minutes later, Ben saw a stray piece of candy. He ran over and snatched it up. I didn't realize he was even listening to the conversation a few minutes earlier, when Brielle had dropped her candy, and I was ready to stop him if he started to put that piece of candy in his mouth, but I just watched as he walked across the room to Brielle and handed it to her. It was as though it hadn't even crossed his mind to keep it or eat it. He always listens from afar and pays attention to people's feelings and does the right thing. I couldn't be more proud of this kid.
A few simple examples of late....
Meredith wouldn't pick up her bag of foam letters. I told her multiple times, over the course of about 20 minutes, that we couldn't and wouldn't go to our play date until she picked them up. A few minutes after I had last asked her to pick them up, I heard her say, "Oh thank you, Ben." Ben was down on his hands and knees quietly picking up her letters without complaint, without being asked to help.
Similarly, a few weeks ago we were walking through Target and I had bought both Ben and Meredith a little box of gum. Right in the middle of the storage and organization aisle, Meredith dumped her entire box of gum. It went flying everywhere - out in the main aisle, under the bottom shelves, in between the shelves. Meredith almost burst into tears, fearing my reaction, but before she could even get a sound out of her mouth, Ben darted to the floor, got down on his hands and knees, and started to quickly gather every single piece of gum. He brought it over to her with a simple "Here, Mer. I got it all." He just reacts instinctively to drop down on his hands and knees to help.
Earlier this week, on Wednesday, Paul had a sales party with Rambow and was going to be home really late. To break up the evening (and let's be honest, so I wouldn't have to figure out something to cook for dinner), I decided to take the kids to O'Neils (a bar and restaurant in Spicer). Based on past history, I bought 2 cheeseburger baskets for 3 kids. Meredith and I ran to the bathroom and when we came out, Luke and Ben each had a cheeseburger basket sitting in front of them. Without me saying a word, Ben took one of his two mini cheeseburgers and said "Here, Mer!" and handed her one of them. Then, a few minutes later, he slid half a pickle over to her. He had eaten half of it, then offered the other half to Meredith. Meredith didn't want it so I asked Ben, "Don't you want it?" He replied, "Yeah, I want it." He took it back and ate it. What I love about that little story is that he didn't just offer it to Meredith because he didn't want it anymore. He WANTED to eat the entire pickle. But as he took bites and monitored when it was close to halfway eaten, he kindly offered it to his sister.
At Sunday school a few weeks ago, each kid received a bagful of of treats and candy. A little girl named Brielle dropped her bag of candy and it dumped on the floor. A few people around her, including her mom and I, helped her pick it all up. A few minutes later, Ben saw a stray piece of candy. He ran over and snatched it up. I didn't realize he was even listening to the conversation a few minutes earlier, when Brielle had dropped her candy, and I was ready to stop him if he started to put that piece of candy in his mouth, but I just watched as he walked across the room to Brielle and handed it to her. It was as though it hadn't even crossed his mind to keep it or eat it. He always listens from afar and pays attention to people's feelings and does the right thing. I couldn't be more proud of this kid.
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