Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

My oldest daughter 'Becca' who's now 5, has never been one to have temper tantrums. Sure there is the odd melt down, but she has developed a way of calming herself, and really communicating her feelings. It wasn't until the other night when she was really sad, and asked me to sing her 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' that gave me a flash back of Becca as a toddler. I remember the day like yesterday, that Becca completely lost it with the melt down of all melt downs. She had literally lost all control, and was unable to communicate her frustration to me. When I told her that she needed to try and calm herself down, she said something to me that really pulled at my heart strings.
'I can't mommy. I can't calm myself down.' I knew then what I had to do. I could have reacted, threw my hands up in the air, and sent her to her bedroom... but no... I knew that I had to help her calm down, because she was not capable at that moment to do it on her own. I pulled her in close, cradled her body tight next to mine, rocked her back and forth and sang 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star', over and over until she began to sing with me in between light sobs. We did this every time she 'lost it', and tempers became less frequent. It melted my heart that she remembered, and asked me to give her that comfort the other night... and so we both sang 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'

RIP Monty

It is Thanksgiving day and I have so much to be grateful for. I am grateful for family and friends who have been tremendously supportive during this most difficult time. I am grateful for my two beautiful girls that are the light of my life. I am grateful for my health, and the health of those close to me. I am grateful for the last three years under the roof of my home, the experiences and lessons that I have learned along the way... but I am also grateful to a new beginning, and hopeful that good will come out of starting over.