This past weekend, my five-year-old son and I were looking at the Guiness Book of World Records. It’d been about 6 weeks since we’d last picked it up. When we came to the woman with the world’s longest fingernails, he giggled and said, “How does she wipe her bum?” Which is the joke I made the last time we were thumbing through the book. Then my son looked at me and added, “I never forgot.”
It made me feel like if he’s going to remember what I say, I need to up my game. Seems like when it comes to words, there are times when we say too many and others when we say too few.
The other day my kids and I rode bikes to the park by our house that has something for everyone: soccer fields, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and a BMX path. My kids were riding along the BMX path practicing going over the smaller bumps so I turned to watch a Lacrosse game.
I heard a man behind me start talking to my kids, “We don’t like for kids to climb these mounds because we are trying to rebuild them.” I turned around and my kids were sitting atop of one of the hills nodding at the man.
I didn’t say anything initially but watched as he continued, “You see, it erodes them so we don’t want kids on them. We are trying to rebuild them and it takes a lot of work….”
He was about ten sentences in saying pretty much the same thing over and over again. I cut in to save him and said, “Okay. We heard you.” He nodded and rode away and my kids carefully climbed down.
What’s the line from Jerry Maguire? “You had me at hello.’ We get nervous or excited and starting using a hundred words when one or ten will do.
On the other end of the spectrum are all the words of admiration, love, and encouragement we think but don’t say. What are we saving them up for? A eulogy?
I have a call and response with my kids. “Guess what?” I’ll ask. When they say “what,” I respond with “I love you.” It’s become so familiar that when I say “guess what,” my five-year-old son will respond, “You love me?”
Yes, yes, I do. And those are words worth remembering.
(featured photo from Pexels)
I co-host a storytelling podcast featuring authors and artists. To tune in, search for Sharing the Heart of the Matter on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music or Pocketcasts (and subscribe) or click here. Or the YouTube channel features videos of our interviews. Please subscribe!
My other projects include work as a CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer), speaking about collaboration, creativity and AI through the Chicago Writer’s Association, and my book about my journey to find what fueled my dad’s indelible spark and twinkle can be found on Amazon: Finding My Father’s Faith.