Don’t we all need to shed those tears that well up in our eyes and strangle our throats with giant lumps every once in a while?
It seems my just-about-to-be-4-year-old feels that way, especially when he’s tired. And thanks to a wise friend, I’m learning to encourage his emotional release and acknowledge it rather than get bothered by it. A validation of his emotions, if you will.
When he’s tired, the smallest things will set him off. Just last night, for example, we were lying in his bed (around MIDNIGHT!!) and I was talking to him about his birthday coming up and his birth and how much and how long we were all waiting for him to be born. And about how happy we were when we finally met him. And somehow we got talking about his daddy and he started to cry, wanting his daddy to read to him. When I explained that he was asleep, since it was so late and he had to work in a few hours, he looked at me with huge eyes and huge tears and said “I wish daddy could stay home and read to me”. My response would normally be exasperation and a huge desire for him to just go to sleep. Instead, I sat and we talked some more about how he felt and he calmed right down and was fine.
Today, we ordered an ice cream cake and of course, had to get some ice cream while we were there, and little mr. getting sleepy said “I wish daddy was here so I could sit on his lap” with the big ‘ol tears. So I scooped him up and sat him in my lap. A couple minutes later he was fine again.
Emotional validation – something we all need and desire, but I never really realized my kids needed it, too. DUH.
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Daddy wishes he could stay home and read to him, too.
Daddy wishes he could stay home and read to him, too.
I love when I figure stuff out with my boys too, it brings you a little closer and can make them so much easier to deal with! Here\'s to hoping our boys stay as sweet at they are today!
How sweet…
I love when I figure stuff out with my boys too, it brings you a little closer and can make them so much easier to deal with! Here’s to hoping our boys stay as sweet at they are today!
i am going through the same over here. with remarkably little patience on my end.
i am going through the same over here. with remarkably little patience on my end.
very wise of you…..i\'ve noticed Connor go through the same thing from time to time. i think i will have to draw from this post and your wisdom and just let him have it out.
emotional validation. so important,
very wise of you…..i’ve noticed Connor go through the same thing from time to time. i think i will have to draw from this post and your wisdom and just let him have it out.
emotional validation. so important,
That had to be such a heart breaker
That had to be such a heart breaker