Miss Moo, Miss Roo, and I went to Busch Gardens for the first time last week. I was amazed at how well they behaved with just me taking them around. After a full day of fun, we headed home. Each girl had her water bottle as we took the ramp down to merge onto 64.
Roo began coughing on some water she gulped too quickly. I began telling her to calm down and breathe. She was a little red but still breathing okay so I didn't pull over.
"Put your arms up!! It will help your breathe!!" Moo suggested to her. Roo did as she was told and began to return to normal breathing patterns.
"Very good, baby girl! Thank you for helping your sister!"
"You and Daddy tell me to do that, right Mommy?? It helps us breathe!"
"That's right baby girl! Great job!"
Moo beamed from the backseat.
It does sink in. All those things your try to teach, and explain, and teach again ad nauseum. Our children are listening. They look to us each day for guidance, love, support, and the opportunity to learn and gain your respect. Children respond best to accolades and acknowledgement that they have not only done something well, but they have learned it and applied it successfully. So keep trying. Even on days when you are ready to hit your head against the wall, perhaps even more than once, try to remind yourself that it's worth it.
Tonight at dinner, Roo began to choke a little on her water. Drew and I asked her in unison if she was alright. She lifted her arms over her head, coughed once more, took a deep breath, and grinned from ear to ear. We were so proud of her and so was her sister. We all told her that. And she beamed.
It's all worth it.
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