Saturday, January 17, 2009

The Best Worst Sound

The very sweetest, funniest, happiest, sound that I have ever heard very frequently causes my heart to miss a few beats as I wait expectantly to see  if it will explode or if I am able to contain the joy and exhilaration that overcomes me at its sound.  Sometimes it comes suddenly, taking me by surprise, and other times I listen with a smile for a few minutes while working on some task, before it completely overwhelms me and I have to drop what I am doing.

This same sound can cause very sudden bursts of frustration and short flashes of anger.  This is only ever when someone is sleeping or the TV is on, and I am hanging on every word of a dialogue or waiting for the most important part of the newscast.  In these instances, that most beloved of all sounds is nothing but an obstacle, keeping me from the punchline of a joke, or the reading off of an important number.  

In the first instance, Aaron's babbling catches me off guard, over and over.  His perfect "Da da da da dee dee da da da deee doooo!!" shouted confidently for all to hear is the highlight of every hour.  His facial expressions and voice inflections change throughout his conversation, and he is obviously saying something.  Often he is talking on the cell phone (or the pedometer -- and at this very moment he has a Polly Pocket bed held up to his ear/mostly cheek and eye and is conversing animatedly with someone) and he paces around the room, just like his dad does when he's taking care of business on the phone.  The sound of this makes me drop what I'm doing and race to sweep him up in my arms and smother him with kisses and smell his neck and hair and hug, hug, hug him and never want to let him go.  It is one of my greatest joys as a mother. 

Still, as I said, there are times this boisterous monologue is just TOO LOUD, or is begun abruptly at exactly the moment we want silence.  In these cases he might also be swept up in our arms, but instead of kisses and sniffs and hugs, he gets carried into the next room, we call, "Evie!  David!  Please come play with Aaron!" and we get back to our show, happy to have such willing babysitters to free us for a minute from the constant babbling.  

I used to feel bad when I was frustrated about kid noise because I was trying to listen to something on the radio or TV.  I hear all those grandparents talking about how they long for the very sounds that used to annoy them as parents, and I don't want to be the parent that takes what she has now for granted.  Still, now I realize that that happens maybe once or twice a week. The grabbing him because my heart may burst from the overabundance of love his talking causes me to feel happens several times every day.

I'm a practical mom.  I can't make myself feel bad for snatching up my baby to get him out of the way of my occasional entertainment, when I know that most often he IS my entertainment, and I snatch him up to gobble up all the sweetness and love he is filled with a dozen times for every time I'm getting him out of my hair. Maybe I should, but I don't.  I just recognize his babbling as the very sweetest, happiest, smartest, funniest, very, very best worst sound.

25 comments:

Barbaloot said...

You failed to mention what TV show it is that he distracts you from:)

I always love picking up my 10 month old niece when she's babbling. After I do, she gives me a look like she's waiting for me to respond back. I still haven't figured out quite what to say:)

Kazzy said...

I remember those days of scooping up my little boys and thinking, "Could I love this monkey any more than I do right now?" And then I realized years later than the love stays no matter what. It's just trying to scoop up a teenager that gets hard on the back!

Josi said...

Ah, you're a good mama. Of course there are moments you don't want ANYTHING interrupting you, but you take advantage of those other times. Good for you.

Heather of the EO said...

You're so right, the guilt isn't necessary when you see the babbling as a positive thing the majority of the time. I needed to hear that. :)

Ola Zan said...

Dang, I didn't make. I wanted to be the very first one on commenting today.
I can tatally picture you this way (because I don't see it every day) - snuggling and kisssing your baby, and your older ones, too. Today we had the Korean sister with her family over at our house, watched some pictures. There was was a picture of you and your family. We started fighting about who's a "better" angel - you or Eve. It was funny.

Pancake said...

I loved and miss those days of grabbing up my sons and kissing them!! ENJOY

Erin said...

What a cute way to describe baby babbling! It's been a while since I had one that small. I kind of miss it...

That Girl said...

Only you can be so eloquent on the babbling subject.

And you're right!

Susan said...

I'm pretty sure he's trying to get through to his Aunt Su and his cousins. Especially Lily and Beth, why else would he choose that Polly Pocket bed? Oh I hope we get to see him soon!

Heidi said...

ooh, you make me want to gobble him up, too! Truth is, those same people who say they miss those days are the ones who can't handle even a tenth of the amount of babbling you experience (you know, now that they are older and not used to it). It's all relative. We have four seasons (at least most places do) b/c, as humans, we just can't tolerate anything for very long periods of time. I once had a bishop, whilst we were trying to explain about the Big Guy and how hard it is as he scrambled all over our laps and legs, say "Hey, I'm loving this! You're saying this is a bad thing?" sigh. Yes, it can be a bad thing when it is constant and it gets in the way of doing other important things. Too much of anything is a bad thing. But still, the gobbling's good!

wendy said...

Take advantage of all those wonderful "babbles" cause before you know it they are gone. I miss my kids being little!!! Now though I can enjoy that through the grandkids while they talk to me on the phone with "bla bla bla"who know's what they are saying -it is just beautiful music.

Andi Kate, Children's Author said...

I read a really terrific article recently about stopping to notice our kids and take in the moment. I have caught myself a few times this week, shushing my kids and telling them to get out of my way when I'm watching a show or working on something--feeling like, I never get a minute to myself, can't you just give me this? And then I remember that article and I stop to take in their faces at that moment, pay attention to the sound of their tiny young voice, or have them come cuddle me instead of pushing them out of the way, and I realize that my moment can be later. I want theirs now.

AND, I appreciate your comments because--while I can try to be conscientous of this--I can do it without feeling guilt for when I don't. Trying to soak them up without squeezing the life out of us both. Thanks pal.

Becky said...

This is such a great post.

I love that you allow yourself to get frustrated with that sound on occasion, because you know that 98% of the time things are just fine. I so need to work on kicking guilt out the door and appreciating my good traits.

Lara Neves said...

I suppose it's a fine balance...the cuteness of my kids is unbearable sometimes (in a good way) and unbearable (in a frustrating way) other times. Especially if it's after bedtime.

My Sophie used to do the same thing with all phone like items. It was totally adorable.

3 Bay B Chicks said...

Practicality wins with me too. Honestly, I seem to discover over and over again that being a Mom is all about striking a balance. Sometimes, we do just need to watch a show, type on the computer, or take a moment away. Is it "bad?" Maybe for some, but not for me.

I am glad to read that it isn't for you either.

-Francesca

Anonymous said...

I love how you recognize the blessings along with the frustrations and accept them all. Perfect!

Alison Wonderland said...

I don't mind hearing my babies talk on the "phone" so much it's when they make me talk on it that I don't know quite what to do.

Heather said...

ditto

Anonymous said...

Hey, I can relate to Aaron! I'm a babbler, too -- I should say, I was a babbler, but it's something I never grew out of. That's why blogging is so therapeutic! I can talk and talk forever, and no one can stop me! (It has something to do with being the youngest in the family -- you really have to work hard to get enough attention!)

Elizabeth said...

Thanks for reminding me that I should be enjoying these sounds, instead of trying to block them out for some peace and quiet. I also have to say that as they get older, I am shown how I sound through them. My kids talk really LOUD and FAST, enough said.

J. Baxter said...

Yay for practicality! I really do think we're a lot alike. Too bad you live in Poland.

Rebecca Blevins said...

I know exactly what you mean. And it's perfectly fine to do that!

Even though grandmas would do anything to hear that sound again, I've heard other grandmas watch their offspring with their children and remark, "I don't know how she does it. I'd forgotten how hard it is."

Perspective. Taking a little time for yourself is important!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Beautifully put! That little dose of perspective can be our saving grace sometimes.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Beautifully put! That little dose of perspective can be our saving grace sometimes.

charrette said...

So well-written! I can totally relate...when our princess was a baby the sound of her laughter was like bells from heaven! I would give anything to hear that magical sound. And yet there are times when it's too much, too loud, too big an interruption...and that's good for everybody to figure out. No guilt. And especially when you take the time and energy to LOVE those same sounds when the time is right!