Little mothers

One time in Primary, parents had been asked to write nice things about their children that the kids would get to read during Sharing Time. One vivacious, smart blond girl’s parents had said, among other things, that she was a “good little mother.” The girl’s face showed that she wasn’t sure how to take that compliment. I was amused, knowing that her parents had meant it in the kindest way, but perhaps hadn’t guessed how that would sound to a roomful of 7-to-11-year-olds. The girl is currently one of our favorite babysitters, and I’ll say that her parents got it right, even if it didn’t sound very flattering to her at the time.

So, today I’m still sick and just feeling blegh again — my stomach hurts and muscles ache. I keep trying to will myself to get anything done (I just found that the kids have spilled cereal all over the kitchen floor, so I crunch across the floor) and through great effort I managed to get a shower and get dressed and put in one load of laundry, but I think that may be all I can do today (well, other than that I do have to get another iron shot this afternoon.) I just realized my poor girls haven’t even had lunch yet — I’ll have to see to that as soon as I get off the computer.

While I was dressing, I asked Mabel if she’d take Henry outside to play, which she was excited to do, and I also asked her to get him dressed. She picked out some clothes for him and headed downstairs. I listened to the whole scene from upstairs: first, Henry ran away from her laughing and screeching. Then, when she caught him, he kicked and screamed and fought. I wanted to rescue Mabel from the task, but was just feeling too sick, so instead I continued listening. She persisted, wrestling with Henry, telling him he had to get dressed before he could go outside, repeatedly emphasizing the word “outside,” — and doing all this firmly and calmly. Gradually, he gave up the fight. She came upstairs again looking for his sandals, and told me, cheerfully, “At first Henry didn’t want to get dressed, but now he’s happy.” She and Henry and Rose are all outside now, playing happily, and I’m glad I was sick so Mabel (and I) got to find out what she could do. This is a girl who’s not going to lose her cool the first time her own toddler throws a temper tantrum.

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