One on One Time

Becoming a Mommy of two has been the most joyous, rewarding award I've ever received. Since it literally happened in the blink of an eye, it has also been challenging and educational. Having to divide your attention between 2 little girls, who honestly never received the attention they deserved, is sometimes more difficult than catching a rain drop.

Abbie is my youngest at 17 months and she naturally wants Mommy for most things. She will sit and play by herself but she requires help when eating, still needs changed, can't really sit in the bath alone, etc. So, 90% of my time when I'm with them is making sure Abbie has what she needs & wants.

Jaelyn is on the verge of being 3 and so independent that I often forget she needs Mommy time too! She feeds herself, goes potty, can take a bath with minimal supervision and is even starting to dress & undress herself. I lose track of her and have to make myself STOP and take a time-out with her and her alone. My eye opener was when Jaelyn decided to, whats the word, 'act-up' at daycare. She was pushing friends, not being nice, and not her normal bubbly self. There are a lot of things I could blame it on but the truth is she was wrong. I did a few things differenly after finding this out, we made a sticker-chart which she was very excited about and I tried to explain things to her calmly instead of being completely upset about it. Afterall, how can she understand it's not nice to be mean if I am not being nice when I explain it?! In any event, it made me think that perhaps I do need more one-on-one time with her.

On Tuesday, I decided to take Jaelyn to a little local circus in town. Just me & her. Mommy & Jaelyn. I cannot tell you how very rewarding it was. She sat on my lap almost the entire time except when she needed to stand-up to see what was happening. The excitement on her face as the elephants came out and the clown car broke in half was a joy unlike anything else. Seeing that Circus through her eyes was the best kind of therapy. I forgot about work, dishes, laundry, the vacuum cleaner and just enjoyed cotton candy, elephants, clowns and much more like I was three years old, too. It made me realize that Jaelyn doesn't care if we are at a Circus, at home or shopping in a mall. All she cares about is being happy, smiling and knowing she is loved. I am so very proud to be one of those that gives her what she needs. I am so very proud to call her my daughter and I am so very proud that she is teaching me just as much as I am teaching her.

A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm. ~Bill Vaughan

I can't think of anything more true.