The importance of touch

What is he talking about?

Huh?

I imagine those could be two typical responses to reading the title of this post. I believe that occasionally my writing is too oblique for some to easily follow. Perhaps I should say for many to easily follow. As you saw if you clicked on the word oblique earlier, one definition is "not straightforward: indirect; also: obscure". I read so much, that I actually do use words like oblique, but my mind is such that I believe that sometimes I think obliquely. Although I do not intend to be devious or underhanded, I will accept that I may confuse, rather than illuminate. (See what I mean?) :)

So what am I talking about? Good question.

Once again, my reference comes back to Noah and Grayson coming into bed to sleep with us at some point in the middle of the night. There are those that would say six year old boys shouldn't be sleeping with their parents. I can't say that I disagree.

And there are those that would say "What's wrong with that?" Again... I can't say that I would disagree.

The night before last, I woke up for some reason at about 4:30 and couldn't go back to sleep. This is a really rare occurrence for me, for which I am extremely grateful. But interestingly enough, Noah joined us in bed a few minutes later. He will generally walk around to my side, and slide in next to me. And so he did, and was fast asleep inside a minute or two. So I was kind of wedged in between Noah and Theresa.

As my thoughts drifted from place to place (what else are you going to do at that time of the morning when you can't move and can't sleep!) I soon found that Grayson had decided to join us. He walked around to my side of the bed and as I kind of popped up to look at him, he smiled and tucked himself in next to Noah. I reached across his brother and placed my hand on Grayson's tummy, and he immediately placed his hand atop mine. Grayson too was fast asleep inside a minute or two. (Good thing we have a King-sized bed!)

As it turned out, it was almost 5:30 by the time Grayson joined us. My mind had wandered so much, I just hadn't realized the time that had gone by. And the power of touch - mom touching dad - dad touching son - brother touching brother - soothed me back to sleep. This, I believe, is a wonderful illustration of the importance of touch.