Chinese Bamboo Tree.

We could all learn a little from the story of the Chinese bamboo tree. After being planted, the tree seemingly does little growing for almost a full five years. For four years, if one were to scan the ground where the tree’s seed was planted, he or she would see nothing out of the ordinary. It would appear as if the seed had died and rotted in the very ground it was supposed to be growing in! But what one does not see, unless he or she was to dig and investigate, is that the seed, when it is well watered and fertilized, is silently growing. It’s growing down and out, establishing a strong and extensive root system in preparation for the fifth year. Sometime during the fifth year, the Chinese bamboo tree sprouts and grows nearly ninety feet in six weeks. Six weeks!

My kids are my bamboo trees. There are days that I reach and exceed my maximum patience levels, can barely foster the strength to take them outside one more time before bed, or explain, once again, for the twentieth time that morning, why one needs to share with his or her sibling and that grabbing a toy from another’s hand is not okay. These days, these times, I know, are the most important times of my children’s lives and, usually a few hours after my stress level drops back to normal, I thank God for graciously allowing me, not some stranger down the street with a childcare business, the benefit of being there for my kids; and granting me the good sense to recognize teachable moments instead of what they appear to be, disrespectful and selfish misbehavior. The daily toils– and believe me, sometimes they are slogging labors of love– do pay off in the long run. Simon, for instance, has had the most difficult time these last few weeks keeping his sticky fingers out and off everything in sight. For the life of me, I can’t seem to stop him from pushing every button he comes across or searches for– even after moving, covering, and baby-proofing all I can. Everyday I am resetting the air conditioner, turning the coffee machine back on, or waiting for the television cable box to restart because they have been shut off and need a few seconds or a minute to reset. Yet, when removed from these distractions and given blocks to build, rings to stack, Play Doh to push and squeeze and shape, or Busy Popin’ Pals to twist and turn, he goes bananas! He wants to learn. He wants to play. He wants to be big and have more control over his fine motor skills like his sister does. He is not misbehaving; he’s bored and he wants to play.

The day will come, soon enough, that my little bamboo trees will sprout. We’ll see then, first hand, not a glimpse, not a sneak peak, but a full panoramic view of the fruits of our labors. And what a proud day that will be for Adrianne and me.