She Wants Me??

From the beginning of Princess's little life, she has been a daddy's girl through and through. One of my favorite stories to tell about her is the time she just came right out and told me so. It was last fall I think. We were driving home in the late afternoon and she asked if daddy was home yet. I told her that he'd be home in about an hour. She pouted. In response to her pout, I said, "you love your daddy don't you?" And she said, "Yeah, I love him more than I love you." I naturally acted shocked and hurt, and so she asked, "That's okay mommy, isn't it?" "Yes, it is okay, " I said, "because I know that you love me." And she responds, "I do love you mommy, but I love daddy more." I love this story so much because at that time I knew that she had always felt that way, and she was just now able to verbalize it. It probably would hurt my feelings if my #2 hadn't been a momma's girl, but truthfully, I am just thankful that she has such a great relationship with her daddy.

Lately though, she has been asking for me sometimes. Especially at bedtime. Daddy has always been the one to read to her and put her to bed, but in the last month or so, she has asked me to put her to bed. And tonight on the way home, she wanted me to sit next to her in the car. In the midst of all the struggles we have had in our parenting lately, these little tiny requests of my presence give me hope. They make my heart smile. I often feel like 90% of my interaction with her is disciplining and training, but these little moments remind me that she also needs nurturing, gentleness, physical touch and love. One day she won't need all that training anymore and I hope that I will have taken advantage of these moments with her enough, that she will still ask for me sometimes when she wants someone to talk to, or needs some advice, or just longs for physical closeness with someone who loves her. When Princess requests me instead of her daddy, it makes me think I must be doing something right. But it is also an opportunity for me to do something right, to take advantage of her request and make the most of it. To love her with my time, my words, my touch, my smile. And maybe when I do that, she will ask for me once more.