Today I took little man in to the doctor for his 9 month check up and shots. Terribl(y adorable) two tagged along and she was a hoot and a half. Normally, people who know me would think I was being sarcastic, but no, she actually was really hilarious.
First, we walked into the doctor's office, which, as most pediatric/family doctor's offices are, was adorned with little elements of whimsy. There were little dog and cat wall clings, a few toys, and lace butterflies hanging from the ceiling. As we entered, my darling little girl looked up, cooed and said, "Wow! Cool!"
She pointed at one decal of a dog sporting a purple baseball hat, shook her head and giggled. "Dog dog HAT? Silly dog, dog." Sense of humor, check.
At another point, we were waiting for the nurses to come back with the vaccines and she kept peeking out the doorway; every time someone would come down the hall she'd gasp and duck back inside, then put her hands over her mouth and giggle. The nurses could't get enough of her.
Then came the part where baby boy was put up on the table. She stood as stoically as it is possible for a toddler to stand by his head and when they gave him the shots -which he took like a champ by holding his breath, nearly passing out, and then screaming (that one is sarcasm, but to be fair, I wouldn't like it either) - she said, "It ok, beebee." Then she looked into my eyes and said, "Beebee cry. He got owie shots. Beebee owie."
As a mother, I have a lot of moments of pride in my kids. They are smart, wonderful, beautiful darlings and I can't imagine my world without them. But there is nothing sweeter to me, no source of pride greater, than their capacity to care for each other. My children have more empathy in their pinky fingernails than most adults I've met contain in their entire bodies. Combined.
There are times I doubt myself very much as a mother and worry about the lessons my children will learn from my mistakes. Today, watching that vivacious little tornado soften and care for her brother, I know one thing- if they continue the way they are, these three mischief makers that grew inside me and own my heart will shake their world like an earthquake. They will do it not with their smarts, or their looks, but using the strongest, rarest gift they possess; love.
First, we walked into the doctor's office, which, as most pediatric/family doctor's offices are, was adorned with little elements of whimsy. There were little dog and cat wall clings, a few toys, and lace butterflies hanging from the ceiling. As we entered, my darling little girl looked up, cooed and said, "Wow! Cool!"
She pointed at one decal of a dog sporting a purple baseball hat, shook her head and giggled. "Dog dog HAT? Silly dog, dog." Sense of humor, check.
At another point, we were waiting for the nurses to come back with the vaccines and she kept peeking out the doorway; every time someone would come down the hall she'd gasp and duck back inside, then put her hands over her mouth and giggle. The nurses could't get enough of her.
Then came the part where baby boy was put up on the table. She stood as stoically as it is possible for a toddler to stand by his head and when they gave him the shots -which he took like a champ by holding his breath, nearly passing out, and then screaming (that one is sarcasm, but to be fair, I wouldn't like it either) - she said, "It ok, beebee." Then she looked into my eyes and said, "Beebee cry. He got owie shots. Beebee owie."
As a mother, I have a lot of moments of pride in my kids. They are smart, wonderful, beautiful darlings and I can't imagine my world without them. But there is nothing sweeter to me, no source of pride greater, than their capacity to care for each other. My children have more empathy in their pinky fingernails than most adults I've met contain in their entire bodies. Combined.
There are times I doubt myself very much as a mother and worry about the lessons my children will learn from my mistakes. Today, watching that vivacious little tornado soften and care for her brother, I know one thing- if they continue the way they are, these three mischief makers that grew inside me and own my heart will shake their world like an earthquake. They will do it not with their smarts, or their looks, but using the strongest, rarest gift they possess; love.
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