He calls himself ‘Super Snap’. It is his alter ego. He has Super Speed and Super Strength and I can get him to help me with near any task if I say:
“Super Snap, can you use your super speed to rescue a diaper from the bathroom so that I change your sister?”
He turns on his heels, puts his hands on his hips and runs like the wind. I’ve no idea how it began but it is one of the most wonderful things that has happened in my household. I’ve got a soft spot for super heroes. On Monday, he wore his red sequins to school and he would answer his preschool teacher only when she addressed him in his super name.
He says things like:
“This healthy food will make me grow strong, right mom?”
And I breathe yes, and then I slip him a chocolate cookie…the opposite must also be true? A bit of junk food will keep you small right? Freeze him in all his glory?
And then there is today…Today when all the fury that could be contained in a body that small bursts forth. A day I can’t wait for bedtime to come. A day I nearly pull out my hair. A day I want to wear a mask so people don’t know who is parenting that Helion. A day I take his teacher flowers because experience has taught me what her morning will be like.
This tension in motherhood is a gift from on high I’m sure of it. How could we watch them grow if it was all sweetness and light? Our hearts would rip clean out, wouldn’t they? And so we walk this line of pulling them in and shrinking them small, and pushing them out and helping them up.
Later in the day, when we are both breathing deeper, he follows me into the kitchen and says,
“Snuggle me mom?”
And I follow him to the living room and we face each other on the sofa. His long legs reaching past my knees. He looks up at me, and like always, reads this mamma mind…
“I’m going to stay with you forever”
And for that moment we both believe it, and shrink small into each other.
one thing blog 
A thoroughly relatable post for me as a mom of a boy growing much too fast for my taste. Interestingly, the last sentiment he conveys is similar to the question posed by my little one.
Visiting via Emily’s Imperfect Prose.
precious. just precious. mine are older….but i remember the super hero phase and the snuggles and the can’t wait until bedtime. treasures.
oh what a tender moment…there are days i want to keep them there in that moment…and others…yes there is tension…appreciate every moment…
I love everything about this. Great post.
Oh wow. This one, I love. I can so relate to that, especially after the bad day I had yesterday! Seeing the sweetness return always makes it worth it.
Super Snap, can you use your super speed to rescue a diaper from the bathroom so that I change your sister?”
it’s amazing what they’ll do when we turn chores into missions. i have two, sometimes three superheroes of my own. 🙂
“How could we watch them grow if it was all sweetness and light? Our hearts would rip clean out, wouldn’t they?”
So true…and I know my journey is only beginning.
Beautiful, honest post.
This is so precious and amazing! Sounds like a wonderful boy to have around.
I have a sweet friend who needs to hear this today. I can’t wait to send this post to her. Great insight.
Our 4-year-old Spider-Man wants to send a big hello to Super Snap. Thank you so much for the tip on making home chores into tasks for the hero!
A very fortunate and blessed Daddy
i’m crying.
i love that you gave him a chocolate chip cookie to keep him small.
i LOVE that he asked you to snuggle him.
what a tender post, friend. absolutely beautiful.