Being there...

Today I just wanted to record that my favorite part about being home with the girls is that I am there for their most raw experiences. My mother's heart can soar when they are carefree and laughing and squeeze tight when they are hurting. Tonight is trash night and I happened to notice our neighbor (with no kids) put a bike out on the curb that was a perfect size for Cait. I shouldn't have even mentioned it, but I thought we could get outside to look at it and chat with the neighbor. In my gut, I knew someone would swoop by pretty quickly and get it from the trash. I was right. Not five minutes had passed before it was gone. I hear Cait call, "Mumma-" and her voice cut out and I knew it was gone. I rushed in from the other room and Cait's face was buried in the sofa, overcome with emotion. Oh how her little heart sank. I held her in my arms as her tears streamed down her face. She was eventually reassured with talk of a possible future bike purchase with daddy, but in that moment I was so glad to be available to her. I can tell now that as she grows up emotionally, it's going to require that I grow up, too! This is hard work to watch your little ones experience defeat and she's only four, it's the tip of the ice berg. She truly is a tender heart.