Tuesday, February 28, 2012

From the heart...

Parenting

A few minutes ago, Sara came downstairs because she woke up and had to go to the bathroom. She's been complaining of a headache off and on today and then tonight she fell and smacked her head at the Y. I'm betting that in no way did that help her headache.

She is so tired. I think that maybe it's a growth spurt because she actually fell asleep in the car today. That rarely happens.

So after she finished in the bathroom, she sat down on the steps and just sort of slumped against the wall. She wasn't whining, just honestly too tired to walk upstairs by herself.

It's at these exact moments that my heart melts and all of the past days, weeks, months of tantrums and battles and defiant behavior just....dissolves. She's still my baby in many ways.

I picked her up and carried her up the stairs. As I headed down the hallway to her room I realized that I wasn't out of breath. Not even a little. Sara is solid. She weighs about 50 pounds or so, so it's not exactly a piece of cake to carry her around.

So it's thrilling to me that I can do this with ease these days. I don't think she minds it either. Tucker has always wanted to be on the go since he learned how to crawl. Sara has always been my clinger.

I got her settled back into bed and all re-tucked in. As I was leaving her room she said "Mommy?"

Me: Yes, Sara?
S: Thank you for carrying me upstairs.
Me: You're welcome, sweetie.
S: Mommy?
Me: Yes, Sara?
S: When I grow up I want to be a mommy like you.
Me: And what kind of mom is that?
S: The best kind.

Heart. Melted.