My daughter started grade one this year. It has been a bit of an adjustment for her. Being away from home every day, all day, is just not something she is accustomed to. For the first few days she looked so sad while standing in line waiting to go into the school. She was not crying but I could see in her face how unsure she was.
One day last week I asked her if she felt better once she got into her classroom and started her day.
To this she relied, "Oh yes Mommy, I was fine. And when I felt a little sad and missed you during the day, I just went and looked at my picture."
"What picture?" I asked, having no idea to what she was referring.
"I'll show you, Mom" she said and then went into her backpack and pulled out this photo.
After some questioning, I got the story of the picture out of her. The picture had been in her craft bin at home and she had, on her own accord, put it in her backpack when school started so that she could look at it when she was at school and feeling a little sad and lonely. Looking at this picture of her Mommy and Daddy made her feel safe and okay.
My heart was in my throat as she told me this. I was amazed that she had such an understanding of her own emotions and what would comfort her, that she had taken this picture and put it in her backpack so that it would be nearby when she needed it.
I was so proud of her. And happy to know that we had indeed created such a feeling of safety and love for her within our family.
And I was touched that she understood the value of photographs and that they can and do provide comfort.
It was one of my proudest moments as a mother and my heart was stolen just a little bit more by this amazing little girl of mine.
What a beautiful story.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jill
DeleteThat's a very sweet story. You are raising a wise little girl! You are an observant mother, too - I don't think everyone would have thought about the meaning of her actions the way you did. This makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteBetsy,
DeleteThanks so much for your sweet comment.
Rachel