The Face and Other Thoughts on Parenting

Heber showed me the ad above this week (looks like the mid 80s to me), and I looked at her sweet face and said, that is my favorite face.   It's the face that says, I did it!  I figured it out!  I knew I could do it and I did it!  And also, look mom I did it.  I look for this face.

There is this transition point that came for me as a parent.  When Leo was just a young toddler and he wanted to start doing things on his own, I think I did more directing of what he should do and how he should do it.  After these years, I've come around to waiting to see how they will do.  I try to step back and to see if they will do it.  There is such joy that comes to their faces when they realize that they can do it.  The first time Leo stopped at the curb to wait for me, he turned around with the most excited face because he'd done it.  In that moment, I was so thankful that I didn't yell at him to stop but gave him the chance to be obedient (unlike I had all the other times).  

We have been seeing this face a lot around here lately.  Amy is walking!  She took her official first steps on the 9th and has been moving like crazy ever since.  She is so proud of herself and I am celebrating this big milestone.

 

Leo is potty trained (well, as much as a three year old can be, it's a process).  Didn't I swear that I would never talk about potty training on the blog?  Well, here we are.  I must be a true mother.  Well, it's been four months.  I DREADED potty training, there are so many horror stories that you hear about it.  It has been a really positive, dare I say joyful, process.  He is so thrilled and feels so grown up.  It makes me happy every time I think about it because it was such a good change in our lives.  And you know what, I see the face all the time.

 

 

Watching these little ones grow up is challenging but sprinkled in there are these really happy moments.  This face makes all the sacrifice worth it.