Tongue-Tied Mama

Posted by Tara | 0 comments

It has finally happened.  Little Man has stumped me.  I knew it would eventually happen but I didn’t expect it this soon.  I was thinking maybe five years from now.  It wasn’t on a topic you would expect either such as the dreaded “where do babies come from” or “why can’t I jump off the bridge if my friends do”.  No.  Little Man had to pick a major theological topic.  One that as an adult I know the answer to and could discuss with another adult but I don’t have a clue how to explain it to a preschooler’s mind.  Are you ready for this?

Imagine yourself (as I was) pushing a cart through Wal-Mart’s office supply section.  Little Man looks at me with his big green eyes, tugs on my hand and says…..Wait for it….

“Mommy, I want to see God.”

Just like that.  No hint that it was coming.  We weren’t even talking about spiritual things.  Just goofy, strolling-through-Wal-Mart chatter.

I didn’t know what to say.  I asked him three times to repeat what he said and each time he became more adamant.  Truth is, I asked him to repeat it once just to make sure I heard him correctly and the other two times to buy some time to come up with a response.  My mind whirled.

What should I say?

“Not yet – Mommy doesn’t want you to go see God just yet.” –Of course, my mommy brain went there first, but no, too macabre (not to mention selfish and opening a whole OTHER can of worms).

“You can see God every day in the trees, sky and other people.” –Tempted to use this one but again, I figured it would royally confuse him and my brain jumped to all the nuances of pantheism, etc. and I didn’t want to go there either.

I truly didn’t know what direction to take this.  I’m still baffled.  So I went with the proverbial and oft-used “Not today, sweetie“.  Of course, this led to the preschooler trifecta of tears, whining and the subsequent correction.

My mind is still whirling.

What would you say?  I really REALLY want to know.

Tara McClenahan is a devoted mom to a two-year-old “little man” and enjoys discovering how God has “packed his suitcase”. As an associate with iBloom, she has a heart for inspiring, encouraging and equipping moms to become “Proverbs 31 mamas” and raise their children according to Biblical principles and guidelines using the Bible and other tools. Tara adores falling leaves, sweatshirts, Starbucks White Chocolate Mochas and the first curly BBQ chip from the bag! Make sure to visit www.MommyMissions.com to download your free Christian mom resource!