this past weekend my very nearly 3 year old grandgirl gave me a lesson in knowing and caring for oneself.
she had had a wonderful day, celebrating and being celebrated. lots of fun and play and interactions.
by the time I saw her at dinnertime, she was tuckered out. I greeted her with my cheery "how are YOU?". and she looked at me and said clearly "I'm not doing so well today." she sat down on her favorite living room chair and looked around at the usual living room hubbub and said "can I go in the bedroom? it's too noisy in here." so she went and sat quietly in her bedroom and watched some favorite quiet videos and nested on the bed and perused a couple books.
how wonderful! no huge emotional meltdown, because she recognized what she really needed in that moment and was able to make it happen. I hope I learned that lesson. how often do I wait until I am full to bursting with need and then blow up into tears unnecessarily in order to get my quiet space. thank you, sweet sunshine, for helping me see a life well lived.
ps -- when I met up with her yesterday after school she was full of energy and humor. she took good care of daisy duck, she ran lickety split down the sidewalk, she was ready to share her sunshine and take in her world. another lesson to learn -- when I am ready to beam, just do it!
