Little Life Moments
Little moments in life burn a spot into your memory. No matter what else happens, how many years go by, there they are. Forever.
When my oldest son was a baby, I gave him a piece of banana to tide him over until I got the rest of his dinner ready. When I heard a strange noise, sort of a gurgle, I tuned in his direction. There it was, my worst fear realized. My baby was choking.
Now, I had been certified in CPR and first aid year after year for over a decade, but seeing his wide eyes filled with tears and his face turning bright red… I froze. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t move. When his little fists started pounding on his high chair, I did the only thing I could. I grabbed him and ran to my husband.
The look on his face as I practically launched his child into his chest screaming, “He’s choking! He’s choking!”
I watched, thinking my child was about to die as he laid him in one arm and with his pinkie, reached into my baby’s mouth and scooped out the chunk of banana.
As my scared child started wailing, I sunk to the ground sobbing. I had failed him. Here he was, my everything, and I froze. Deep down, I knew what I was supposed to do, but with my own flesh and blood? I couldn’t.
I would do anything for my family, specifically my children, so why? Why couldn’t I do what my husband did?
I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason. I say it over and over again. It was in that moment that I realized why it happened.
Every relationship has it’s ups and downs and there were times that I swear we had way more downs than ups. In that moment I knew that when I needed to count on him most, I could. We balance each other out. When he’s ready to lose it, for some reason, I am able to remain calm and can handle whatever the issue is and when I’m at my breaking point, he swoops in to save the day.
It took over an hour for me to stop shaking that day. It still amazes me that he kept his calm and saved our child, and then took the time to console his wife. It was a reminder to cherish every moment we have with our children, even the rough ones.
