Today, when you came in to my room at 6:30am and told me you didn’t want to go to school, I didn’t say you had to. I asked why. When you explained it was, I quote,”unreasonable to expect me to sit still for 5 days, and then what, only get two days off? It’s too much”, I agreed and told you that you could stay home. As I was on the phone with the school office, telling them you were absent due to a mental health day, I smiled as I watched you building a playground out of scrap wood for the chickens.
Today, when your young boy eyes fell on the bikini clad bronze woman on the front of the magazine at the check out line, I didn’t shoo you away or tell you stop. I asked what you were thinking. When you said you wondered why she was in her underwear, I sighed, and did my best to help you understand. To somehow help you learn about respecting bodies, yours and hers, and to also respect that it was her choice to be on the magazine in her bikini underwear. Then, I directed your sisters eyes to the magazine and asked you both if you thought she looked like a real woman, or if you thought they’d maybe changed the picture. You both said they’d changed the picture. I agreed, and said real bodies are beautiful and don’t need photoshopped slimming.
Today, when you woke me up at 2am saying you were hungry, I didn’t send you back to bed, I got up with you and we had a secret bowl of cheerios in our pajamas with just the little light over the stove to illuminate our faces. I was tired, but I want you to know when you’re 16 years old that I’ll have a 2am bowl of cheerios with you when something is on your mind, or you just need me to sit with you in the dark.
Today, when you said you just needed a Mommy Day, I didn’t explain that sometimes I need to work and you’d just have to play by yourself this morning. I turned on my out of office and we went to get pedicures. Your fancy toes looked amazing, and I noticed when you played quietly for hours after we got home so I could get work done.
Today, when you told your sister she had to give you one of her toys or you would kick her, I didn’t scold you hard and say you were violent. I pulled you to the side, and told you that when we only give someone two bad choices, we use our power to take away their power. Two bad choices isn’t much of a choice. Then I gave you a second try, and you told your sister you’d like to play with her toys, could you trade for a bit?
Today, when you refused to get your shoes on when it was time to go, I didn’t yell or storm you out to the car bare foot. I asked what was wrong, when you said it was my fault, I thought about your week and then asked you if it felt too busy. You said yes, and that you wished everyone in the world would just disappear except you and me. I understood and felt the same way. We cancelled our plans for the next day and spent it watching TV and snuggling instead.
Today, when you screamed at me that I was out of control, because let’s be honest, I was borderline out of control as I was so tired and frustrated, I somehow found a deep breath, lowered my voice, and said you were right. I asked you for a time out for my sake, explaining that time outs are breaks to help us be our best, and I was sure I needed one. You gave me one, and after I’d calmed down, I apologized and asked your forgiveness. Hard as I try, I can’t seem to make the right choice every time, but I promise to always ask your forgiveness.
Today, when it was hard, I got one piece of it closer to right. I don’t always, even usually, but today I did. Today, when it was hard – for you, or for me, I tried to remember that we’re in this together and I tried to show you that I love you. And I could tell you were trying, too.
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This article originally appeared at All Sarah Does.
