Mommy Hug and Kiss Jars

Once upon a time there were two little boys that were in an unhappy place. They cried, and threw things, were angry, and couldn't sleep at night. They were frightened when anyone raised their voices and they were afraid to be away from their mommy. 

One day Mommy took the little ones to a big colorful place in their neighborhood. There were lots of other boys and girls and lots of bright colors and happy people. They liked this place, but after a week they were again scared and anxious and unhappy. 

And so is the tale of my two little ones and their struggle with post traumatic stress disorder and the anxiety that comes with it. The first few weeks of school for my sons in Kindergarten were some of their hardest. They were experiencing feelings they didn't know how to deal with, but when Bobby said, " Mommy can you come to class and give me hugs? " I knew there had to be something to make their day brighter. 

Looking through my craft room, I found these little bottles. Mini salt and pepper shakers that were small enough to fit in a pencil box. I pulled paint and glitter, ribbon and stickers. 

It was a regular part of our day to walk home from school every day. We would stop by the park and then continue on to home, where we would craft, do homework, and spend time watching a movie before bed. It was a part of our daily lives that had evolved out of the need to make my little ones happy again. 

That day we took a detour. We bought ice cream, chocolate sauce, caramel, and sprinkles. We made sundaes, put the homework off until the next day, watched Scooby Doo and Harry Potter, and made pigs in a blanket and veggie trays for dinner. 

We poured the tiny bottles and glitter containers onto the table and each boy picked a jar. We poured colors and paints into the little jars and turned them upside down to dry, letting the extra paint pour into a container we would use for another craft another day. Before we went to bed I gave them each tight hugs and kisses. 

The next morning my sons were ready to walk to school and as we walked holding hands we talked about trees, clouds, flowers, they met up with other parents and classmates heading to school too. It was an adventure every morning, discovering leaves, rocks, clouds. Every day my sons were getting lighter. 

This morning we reached their homeroom classes and before I went in I hugged them and I hugged their jars, blew kisses into them, capped them tightly, and told them whenever they needed a hug and kiss from mommy they were in their pencil boxes. 

My sons used them a few times after that, but now they keep them on their shelves and pull them down once in a while and tell their little brother about all the fun they had making the jars. 

They no longer remember why we made them. They don't remember being unhappy or anxious or scared. They just remember the fun they had while they were making them with Mommy. 

Once upon a time I would think about those days and tear up. Now I think about them with pride. It makes me proud to see how my sons have evolved and how they have become happy and still need time with Mommy. They're nine now and are growing up so fast. 

These jars are only 1 x 1 inches but it just proves to never underestimate small things. They are usually the things that mean the most. 

Namaste ~