Courtney is the adoring Mom of two young boys. She loves being a Mom, spending time in freezing, cold hockey rinks, and every puck-scuff on her wall.
When Courtney is not at home building the character in her boys, she is at her day-job working to build character in every youth she meets. Both personally and professionally, Courtney is a guiding light to integrity and making good choices. She never tires!
Courtney and I had a lot of parenting similarities; however, it was her simply stated tip on snuggling that brought me to the sweetest memory.
Courtney, “Make time for snuggles.” Tip #4
I treasured snuggles! I remember when Michael was a little boy, he would crawl up on the sofa with me and we would snuggle. I recall cherishing that time, in the moment.
Even when racing through the early years, I knew snuggles were precious and limited. I was aware snuggle time would be short-lived. During those times, I attempted to be ever so present.
To my fortune and surprise, even into his adolescence, Michael would occasionally crawl up on the sofa with me and snuggle in. It was always such a warm and welcomed moment. I began to soak it in even deeper, secretly wondering which snuggle would be my last. Each time I felt like the luckiest Mom in the world!
In 2008, when Michael was injured in a snowboarding accident, I felt my “snuggle days” were over. I consciously reflected on those precious moments. I worked to accept, with Michael’s newly acquired disability and impaired mobility, he was no longer able to crawl on the sofa with me. I understood those days were over. I accepted things as they were and appreciated having ever have had snuggles at all.
One day, as I worked to find gratitude and acceptance, to my delight, at age 17, Michael crawled up on the sofa with me! My heart swelled! There is just no telling when one more snuggle remains.
I’m glad Courtney and I have cherished each and every snuggle. I can guarantee we will both forever hold out hope there will always be just, one, more.
Thanks Courtney for the tips, and the memory!
For more on snuggling, https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/04/27/bonding-with-baby_a_23421940/
Next week’s Mom, Esther highlights the importance of good friendstalks about friends.