rocket ships

My boys are coloring more these days. Preschool "homework" kind of does that.
It's teaching us all to slow down, and relax. Teaching these high energy boys to be calm and think and color and create... instead of bounce, and jump, and destroy.
Crayons are pulled out and left out; actually used on paper and put back in the box.
Respect, I guess- for the art. for momma's sanity. for quiet afternoons putting pen crayon to paper.

Cade is learning to respect his big brother. Cade has always been bigger than Austin. Cade overpowers Austin, has a little more force, gets a little more attention because he's the baby...
Cade was proud to show me he also drew a rocket ship, just like Bubba! Just as the role should be... Little Brother looking up to Big Brother... instead of Little Brother biting Big Brother over a toy.

I sit and I look and I'm happy to see their minds working to create. Happy to see them learning from each other and encouraging each other. They draw houses with wheels, and a Christmas tree hanging from the ceiling, and a rocket ship for a front door. The stories they tell lead me in, and draw me into their world- just like a book...

I wonder when I'll steal a moment to put pen to paper... fingers to keyboard. I wonder when I'll draw from encouragement and come back to this place to write and tell stories and paint pictures with my words.
I want to to tell you. I want to let you in.
But for now?
I listen to their stories. I choose purple and blue and green and I draw squares and rectangles and a moon for the rocket ship to land on. I'll put crayon to paper, because my thoughts are too jumbled to paint a picture.
These days? I'm much more suited for preschool homework....

Excuse me, while I sit at a too small picnic table, with boys who are growing too fast...