Yesterday evening, I overheard Shawn telling a story about Reilly to my father and my step-mother. Shawn was recounting a little scene that happened yesterday morning:
Reilly picked up a teddy bear from the den and dragged it by the ear to the living room, where she presented it to Shawn. Shawn took the bear and then put her finger through the thread loop that was sewn onto its head. She dangled the bear before Reilly. Reilly, upon seeing this neat trick, grabbed the stuffed animal back and put her own finger through the loop, then held the bear up so that Shawn could see. See mom, I’m just like you.
Shawn was telling my father and step-mother this story as an illustration of how aware these scenes make her feel. Reilly is watching us, and is learning from us, at nearly every moment. So often, I worry about not spending enough time reading to Reilly, or not playing constructively with her, when what I should worry about are the hundreds of other actions that make up my day, from my facial expressions to how I react to Reilly when she intentionally drops her sippy cup on the floor.
It’s funny; while being a parent becomes progressively easier as each day passes, the actual parenting becomes harder and harder.
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