I'm at the office working, or not working, to the florescent computer buzz. My phone rings, the same lullaby as Josie's mobile. Two-years ago it was endearing, now I have no idea how to change it. It's just annoying.
"Hello."
"Hi, Mama!" Amelia's sweet excitement.
"Hi, Sweetie. Whatcha doing?"
"Mom. Mommy, mom. Mom. You won't BELIEVE what I just did!"
"Yeah? Try me."
"I climbed SO high in this tree. I just climbed up, up, up. I was higher than the six and seven-year-old BOYS!"
"Wow. That is so cool. You rock. How fun was it?"
"Well...it was really fun. And then it was a little scary. So you know what? You want to know what? You want to know what I did when I started to feel scared?"
"Love to. Tell me what you did."
"Well... first I just stopped. Then I told myself 'don't panic. You're OK. You're OK. Don't panic.' And I breathed and kept saying 'doooon't panic, doooon't panic."
"Perfect. What a smart thing to tell yourself. I bet that really helped."
"It did. AND you know what else? You want to know what else I did? Well, every time I thought I was stuck, I just told myself 'Don't panic. Just climb back up one branch and look for another route. It's ok. You got up here, so there has to be a way down.' And I did it. I climbed right down. Then I climbed back up even higher because I knew I could do it. The boys were scared to climb so high."
"Amelia, Mila, that is SO awesome! I am so proud of you. And the great thing is you can use that anytime you feel scared. Breathe and tell yourself not to panic. That's perfect."
"Yeah, I know that. I gotta go climb again."
Your daughter is wisdom personified! I love that she outclimbed the boys. Think I'll go find a tree to climb.
ReplyDeleteYour daughter is wisdom personified! I love that she outclimbed the boys. Think I'll go find a tree to climb.
ReplyDeleteYup, I dig it. And, I miss her! Tell her I miss her.
ReplyDeleteYa know, I've hung out with a few 5-year-old girls lately, and they were cool and all, but... well. They weren't her. What a rock star.
That reminds me of some pictures I have of her in my phone. I better get them out of there.
Great post.
What a treasure that girl is! Don't you love it when they call you just to share their triumphs? I'm wondering where she gets such wisdom - couldn't be her mama, could it?
ReplyDeleteLove.
What a wise little girl. It is a good reminder to all of us, when we are scared, breathe, don't panic and keep going. Perfect.
ReplyDeleteI also loved that she outclimbed the little boys. She rocks!
This post made my night. Thanks.
Take an A, Mom. Who taught her that shit? GREAT snippet, too, so much with so few wonderfully chosen words! You did a great job of showing,not telling us about Amelia!
ReplyDeletePerfect. Amelia, the post, all of it: Perfect.
ReplyDeleteThank her for me, will you? Some of the best advice ever: "Don't panic. Just climb back up one branch and look for another route. It's ok. You got up here, so there has to be a way down."
Awesome! I'll have to teach Riley that one.
ReplyDeleteDon't panic!
Wow, that little girl has a lot to teach us! I hope I remember this great lesson the next time I need it.
ReplyDeleteWell, every time I thought I was stuck, I just told myself 'Don't panic. Just climb back up one branch and look for another route.
ReplyDeleteExactly the words I needed today! Thank you for you wise daughter! So wise!
Lee