As a young girl I loved my mothers gentle touches. She used to tickle me on my bottom... I know that sounds weird, but it wasn't in a perverted way... it was just a loving touch. I would have stayed still for hours for that. I loved her touch.
The tickling continued with our girls. It started for them after baths. I would massage Baby Mennen lotion (I love their baby lotion over the norm by J&J)... anyways, after their little massage I would finish it off by gently tickling down the length of their little bodies. They all seemed to love it soooo much. They'd lay still and hardly breath...it was so cute.
As they grew tickling became a way of relaxation. I can remember countless times of a child plopping down beside me to nudge my arm to begin the sought after mother's touch.
(Infact, they still love it as grown up girlies).
I can't remember exactly when the tickle train came to the station but I can remember being "on the train"...I was always the caboose. The girls would line up sitting Indian style in front of me. I'm sure we had a way of who went first, but it eludes me now. So this is how it went down:"
The rules were we would all tickle the person in front of us (except for the lead person of course. If anybody stopped tickling we had to yell "stop" or "keep tickling"...something like that (see what happens when you start to get old - your recollection doesn't recollect that gr8).
So at some point (whenever I wanted) I'd call out "switch". The lead would move to me and the other two would move up. Everybody got tickled, except for me, but that's ok.
We'd go for awhile, as long as everybody got their "fix".
Another fun memory I had was our chore list. We had a rotation of doing the dishes and feeding the pets. The calendar on the fridge helped keep us organized. I would mark on the side of each week K, C & B and put a D-for dishes or P-for pets beside the initial and kept the rotation going that way. Whoever fed the pets also got to be in the front seat while traveling without their daddy. The front seat child also got to me in charge of the radio. Everyone knew the rules and that kept fighting down alot over crazy stuff like that. One person would be "off" that week. One day Brooke says (in front of her sisters), "mom, I have an idea...whoever is off can fold the laundry"... HA! Kacee & Carah yelled out "Brrrooooooke!!!" I on the other hand thought that was a great idea.
I read many issues of Family Fun back in those days which really gave great advice as well as offering fun ways to be creative and learn at the same time.
One thing I wish I would have done differently: been a better influence as a godly mother. I was active in church, helping with Vacation Bible School and also was a mission leader for a while "Girls in Action", but the day to day learning wasn't sufficient as I look back. I have a friend named Christina that I look up to in this area. She's on my site here...check her out at "Light My Way". She's the kind of mother I wish I had been years ago. I know there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ... so, I'm kicking myself in the butt, God's not. We are responsible to train our children the way they should go. So, I have a second chance starting with sweet Noah.
We are going to have sooooo much fun...we are already. Today I am teaching him the word KISS... I plan to give him a million or so today, think he'll get it? :0)
Have a sweet day! Make some memories, GOOD ones!!!
i'm up for a tickle train right now! :)
ReplyDeleteps. i don't think noah is keen on tickling just yet, he is still too actually ticklish to enjoy it :) haha..
i love you mommy!!
mwah!
look at my most recent post...i've got something good for you!! :)
ReplyDeleteCindy,
ReplyDeleteYou are always so encouraging to me! I think you have been a super mom to your girls and I would love to be such a rock n roll mom like you are! You have such a free spirit and I just love that. Your heart is beautiful and your desire to seek God's glory in all you do is such a ministry to me! I love you Cindy:)