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Rose is 3. Rose likes to push boundaries to test where “the line” is. Rose is 3, pushes boundaries, & is teaching me a lot about life.
*a quick story*
*a quick story*
Tonight, as I was changing Clare into her pj’s, Rose really wanted to help.
So I told her to stand by the dresser & help.
She stood there, squirming & looking around as I dressed Clare
And then she grabbed the baby lotion, opened it, squeezed it forcefully, & it got everywhere
So I told her to stand by the dresser & help.
She stood there, squirming & looking around as I dressed Clare
And then she grabbed the baby lotion, opened it, squeezed it forcefully, & it got everywhere
The lotion got all over my shoes & her arms.
She instantly dropped the bottle, sheepishly said, “I’m sowwy!” & stood there
I quickly snapped at her. “Rose!Why did you do that?!”
But before I even let her answer, I snapped again “You can’t just grab things! You’re in the way!”
She instantly dropped the bottle, sheepishly said, “I’m sowwy!” & stood there
I quickly snapped at her. “Rose!Why did you do that?!”
But before I even let her answer, I snapped again “You can’t just grab things! You’re in the way!”
Her eyes instantly welled up with tears. She hung her head & ran out of the room, crying
My heart sank
I should not have yelled. I’m the adult. It was just a little lotion. I should’ve watched my temper & tone
So I called her back
She came in...”I just wanted to help, mommy.”
My heart sank
I should not have yelled. I’m the adult. It was just a little lotion. I should’ve watched my temper & tone
So I called her back
She came in...”I just wanted to help, mommy.”
I got down on her level.
She didn’t want to look at me. She knew I had been mad. But I needed to apologize
“I’m sorry, Rose. I shouldn’t have yelled. I got frustrated.”
“I just wanted to help, mommy.”
“I know, bud. And I should’ve told you how to help.”
“Will you next time?”
She didn’t want to look at me. She knew I had been mad. But I needed to apologize
“I’m sorry, Rose. I shouldn’t have yelled. I got frustrated.”
“I just wanted to help, mommy.”
“I know, bud. And I should’ve told you how to help.”
“Will you next time?”
It was the “will you next time?” that gutted me.
Because I didn’t know if she meant “will you yell next time” or “will you tell me how to help next time” that she was asking...
And that’s when it hit me.
She, all 3 years of her, just wants to be “in the midst of it” with us.
Because I didn’t know if she meant “will you yell next time” or “will you tell me how to help next time” that she was asking...
And that’s when it hit me.
She, all 3 years of her, just wants to be “in the midst of it” with us.
“I will try to tell you how you can help me next time, Rose. Will you try to listen when I do?”
“I’ll twy, mommy,” she said.
“Do you forgive me for yelling, Rose?”
She said yes. Gave me a hug. And then I asked her if she’d talk to Clare while I finished getting her dressed.
“I’ll twy, mommy,” she said.
“Do you forgive me for yelling, Rose?”
She said yes. Gave me a hug. And then I asked her if she’d talk to Clare while I finished getting her dressed.
She instantly lit up.
“Will that help you, mommy?”
“Yep! It would help me, & it’ll make Clare happy.”
And Rose happily began talking to Clare.
And I realized fully how every single one of us, desperate to help & be in the thick of it, need direction & affirmation as we try to
“Will that help you, mommy?”
“Yep! It would help me, & it’ll make Clare happy.”
And Rose happily began talking to Clare.
And I realized fully how every single one of us, desperate to help & be in the thick of it, need direction & affirmation as we try to
Rose wanted to be in the room. And I initially just ignored her, trying to rush through dressing Clare. And my ignoring her ended up causing more of a problem because I lost my temper.
But we learned something. Rose needs a task. She needs to feel needed.
And...don’t we all?
But we learned something. Rose needs a task. She needs to feel needed.
And...don’t we all?
