My husband and I took our kids to his dad's house this weekend, for a "slumber party" with his sister and our niece. Sleeping arrangements included our daughter in bed with us. Since it was a special occasion, we let her stay up a little later than normal, so she was pretty tired and loopy by the time we finally got her laying down. In order to get her calmed more quickly, we both climbed into bed with her. She laid curled up on her side - my husband rubbing her back, and me playing with her hair. At that moment, all I could think of was how much we both love her. That night, in that moment, she went to sleep safe, secure, and literally surrounded by love.
Parenting is tough. It's a constant guessing game, and the recommendations by the "professionals" are ever-changing. I'm sure there are a million things I do wrong, or at least that I could do better. We may not have the means to give her every material possession she'll ever want. I might not say the right things when I am supposed to. I might not strike the right balance between telling her just enough versus telling her more than she needs to know. I might give her too much juice, or too little fruit, or too much this, or too little that....
I'm 100% positive I have made mistakes, and I am 100% positive I will make more.
However - both of my children will grow up knowing they are loved - fiercely. It's becoming evident already that they recognize they are in a loving home. My daughter will randomly, and without prompting, tell me she "lubs" me, and offer a hug and kiss. My son has learned to give big, open mouth, drooly kisses, and also offers them freely and frequently. The love they express for each other is absolutely heart-melting. We are a family who hugs, laughs, loves and shares together. So no matter what I might do wrong, I know I am doing this one thing right...and if you ask me, it's a pretty big thing!
