Mic(aiah) Drop

     I enjoy listening to podcasts. Typically I'll put one on for a little extra motivation to knock out the dishes or fold the mountain of laundry. On this particular day, I was listening to a Christian parenting podcast while driving my kiddos around. Micaiah, my five year old, was talking to me, as he usually does. I had put on the radio for them but he just wanted to chat. I was half listening and responding to him, half trying to listen to my podcast. I took an airpod out so I could hear him better and he, now realizing why I wasn't responding sooner to him, immediately said, "Why do you have those in? Are you listening to a podcast?" I said I was, and he quickly asked why I was listening to a podcast. I was slightly taken aback and said, almost defensively, "I am listening to a podcast teaching me how to be a better Mom!" He responded, "Wait. You have your headphones in and have to ignore your children to learn to be a better mom? How does that make sense?" Yes, my five year old said those words. I literally had no response, just started slowly removing the other airpod as the proverbial mic loudly dropped. Then after admiring the wisdom and clarity of thought my five year old just spoke, I smiled and said, "You're right, that doesn't make sense. Let's talk!"     

    I have thought about this moment so many times. Here I was, doing something good, something beneficial even. But it was at the expense of what was best. A good thing can be a bad thing if it's not the best thing in the moment. Being present goes a greater distance in Motherhood than anything else. It was  ironic, here I was striving to be a better mom in the future by being a worse mom in the moment. I am grateful for Micaiah calling me out because the way to be the best mom to my kids is to be a present mom with my kids. Presence over progress because in being present, progress is made. There's little I care more about than being the best mom I can be to Micaiah, Esther, Lauralai and Corban. They deserve the best. Each of their hearts full of curiosity and words, just wanting to talk and process through all they are seeing and learning. I love that I get to be that person for them every day. All day. May we always choose what is best over what is good. And save the podcasts for the daily sink sesh!

Making it Matter,

Laura Jones