Chicken Nuggets

Many times, you don’t miss something until it’s gone.  I cannot tell you the number of things that grated on my nerves pre-COVID-19.  My life was full of activity.  The time that I did have at home during the week was not really time to relax from my day.  Most often, I would be preparing for the next day or finishing any of the number of tasks that adulthood requires.  And I was so tired.

COVID-19 given me the opportunity to spend more time in the home that I work hard to maintain.  And I’m grateful for that.  Listen, I have had to find joy in anything that I can grab onto.  But I have also realized the things that made my life so full.  And at the time, I took it for granted.

Being a speech-language pathologist is a joy, but it comes with challenges.  One-on-one therapy can be draining. Weeks and weeks of long days had really zapped some of the wonder out of my job.  Don’t get me wrong.  I had days when kids made giant leaps, but the majority of the progress is slow and steady.  I think had become jaded…and quite frankly, exhausted.

I realized just how much I missed my kids this week.  I have been one little boy’s therapist since he was an arm baby.  He couldn’t walk, he couldn’t talk, and he claimed me as his own.  The baby room teacher would always comment about how much he loved me.  If I came in his classroom and didn’t pick him up, he would scream and cry.  And this year, he’s going to kindergarten.  I was already mentally preparing myself for his big boy adventures and then quarantine happened.

I don’t want to sugar coat our relationship.  It’s been a real life adventure.  He did not magically talk.  He crossed so many hurdles.  He reached a therapist’s dream/nightmare point really.  He talked ALL THE TIME.  He would interrupt me when I talked.  He sang.  He laughed.  He enjoyed life and was not always on board with the objective that needed to be targeted.  Then he developed an even greater habit.  Everybody and everything was a chicken nugget.

It’s not ENTIRELY my fault that the chicken nugget saying became a thing.  One day, I asked him a question and he responded, “chicken nugget.”  I thought it was funny, so I laughed.  BIG MISTAKE!  He used that phrase quite often to try to throw me off my game.  He would have the biggest belly laugh every time he said it.  We had to have a “Come to Jesus” meeting about chicken nugget, because it was wearing me down.  I was OVER IT!

And this week I realized that I would give anything to hear him say “chicken nugget” and dissolve into giggles.  It put my life into perspective.  The little thing that drove me nuts was something that I miss dearly.  It’s not just him.  I miss all my babies.  They each have such distinct personalities and bring different qualities to the table.  Watching them grow has grown me.  They’ve all imprinted on my life.  It’s the little things.

My prayer is that we are all taking time to find one thing that we’re grateful for every day.  Prior to this, it was a struggle for me to take inventory of the positive aspects in my life.  I was just trying to make it.  Honestly, I’m still just trying to make it, but I’m being intentional about finding the sweet in a sour situation.  And sweet and sour sauce pairs nicely with chicken nuggets…in my opinion.  #wepreach