to the rescue

Betsy got herself a bit stuck tonight while I was making dinner. It wasn't a big deal, but she was starting to get upset about it, so I asked Sophie to go help her get unstuck. Sophie ran off and I heard her clomping up the stairs and I assumed that she's not going to help. So, I asked Emanuel to help. He did. Next thing I know Sophie has returned with her cape and is insisting that we put Betsy back so that she can rescue her. Betsy wasn't having any of that, But Sophie recovered nicely to zoom and zip about the house.

my anxious child

Sophie is officially scared of her own shadow.
 I put her down for the night and a a few minutes later she started screaming. I try to be a good mother so I ran to her, did the comforting scoop up and nuzzle and set about seeing what was the problem. "A shadow! A shadow!" she managed to screech around her terrified gasps. I looked at the wall and there was her silhouette smashed up against mine. It took me almost 45 minutes to calm her down. I was almost fed up with her other fears:
~ stinkbugs
~ladybugs
~hair washing
~dogs
~cars
~diaper changes
~does daddy miss her when he's away?
~not touching me every moment of the day
~etcetera, etcetera, etcetera (<-please read this in the way king in 'The King and I' said it. It's just better)
But in the (very lengthy) time it took me to comfort her I think I had a few breakthroughs in my own heart about how I can best deal with her. A few words kept swimming through my head.
 #1: Be slow to anger.
        I need that. The first few upsets of a day I can handle but by bedtime I'm just thinking (and occasionally saying) "Would you just shut up already?!" Lots of praying for me to be a more patient mommy. I make my kids pray for that too. It helps us understand each other if we pray for our faults together (or I like to think so at least)
#2: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything give thanks.
       This is the direction in which I felt I should urge my daughter. I laid next to her reminding her of everything she has in her life for which she can be thankful. From a good brother who flushes stink bugs for her, to a daddy that treasures her, to warm socks and yummy cheese. Seriously everything I could think of. She slowly relaxed, but took a bit of coaxing for her to be okay with me leaving.