Ben and I have a 4 year old daughter, Anna. Her favorite book is “No David” by David Shannon. Which basically consists of a little boy named David being told “No David!” by his mom over and over and over while the pictures portray the trouble David is causing. In the end, after finding himself in time out, his mother calls him once more to say “Yes, David, I love you”.
Our Journey with Anna has been very similar. She has been named Anna (meaning grace) appropriately. She confidently walks in it everyday, and tells me at the end of a bad day that “Tomorrow is a new day and I get another chance to be a sweet girl, right mommy?”. No condemnation is her motto.
She has definitely been our challenging child, determined and head strong and smarter than both of us. 😉 One mom once told me she had to have a talk with her 3 year old one day and told her “You may be smarter than me, but I am still your mama.” This is our Anna. Yet she can be so loving and free to share her affection. Not afraid to approach anyone, and if there is a dog in a 1 mile radius she has to pet it.
We sometimes lay in the bed, my husband and I, and have to chuckle at the audacity she has. Doing our best to train her in the right direction we choose to laugh instead of cry knowing that this too shall pass. She used to put poop on the walls every time she pooped, she does not do that anymore, she used to scream in a shrilling pitch that could bust glass for 15-20 minutes every night at bed time, she does not do that anymore. She used to get out of the bed 20 times at night before falling asleep. She does not do that anymore. Yes, this too shall pass. So why not laugh about it now instead of later!   😉
In my laughter I was told I needed to share some of the frustrating, hair pulling, hilarious things she does and maybe you will empathize, sympathize, shake your head, pray for me, and/or laugh with me. (Or at me. Makes no difference. 😉  )
So here is one story:
Last week our family went to the Beach with 2 other families, and 4 other kids. After sticking to the beach, the pool and the house for 3 days we decided to venture out and go to “Gulf World” in Panama City Beach Florida. A miniature version of Sea World (Like Putt Putt versus a PGA tour golf course.) While we were there we had 6 adults all looking out for 6 kids. We were petting the sting rays while awaiting the scuba exhibit, but Anna wanted to look at the sea turtles. When it was time for the scuba show we all walked in and had a seat. Fifteen minutes later someone asks “Where’s Anna?” Suddenly Ben and I are on our feet and out the door. As we come out a man, seeing the panic on our face, says “Are you looking for a little girl? They took her to the gift shop” We run past him as we say thank you, but by the time we get to the gift shop she is gone. They took her out back to the sting rays to look for us. When we make it full circle back around there she is with the employee. There is a sigh of relief. I scoop her up and hold her close and say “Oh baby were you scared?” “A little, but Not really” she replies, calmer than all of us. The lady who was helping her find us tells us that she did not cry one bit. She found a mommy and told her she could not find hers. Then she could tell them what our full names were and that her sisters name was Emily and she was 7 years old with brown hair and that the last time she saw us was at the sting rays. She never cried once. No fear. I asked her again if she was scared, she said “No, You know what I am most mad about? I did not get to see whatever show you were watching!” …. Emily said later, “Mommy God is good to protect Anna like that”. I said “Honey it is why I ask and thank God for the angels of protection everyday. They work overtime on our behalf ” 😉
Now it is Anna’s turn to be 7, and though she is not a big sister, (Mom says it won’t happen, but you never know…) she is always there for me. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was totally freaking out. I had been put in time out in the scuba show, (for whatever reason) and as soon as we saw Anna was missing, I was like, ‘Yes, I can get out of time out! Thanks, Anna!’ LOL. I always have her back, and she has mine. Love ya, goober!