She

Some interesting stuff has been happening lately. Miss Thing is getting big. So she likes to tell us at least. I wonder sometimes if I put too much on her. I have to remind myself every now and again that she is only four. I try to give her that space. But given the fact that she is a middle child, right in between two siblings who both have special needs, her life will be so different than mine was, or any of her peers' are for that matter. Not bad, just different. I don't think we do anything, as parents, to single out one kid above another. We try our hardest to treat them all equally. Even so she'll have things on her shoulders that no one else will and I am so very aware of that.

I've been starting to notice lately how Miss Thing has started to act towards her brother. A few months ago I found them after church like this.

Buttons are not his strong suit. She hasn't figured them out either. But she recognized that he needed help so she was doing her best to give it to him.

Then yesterday something else happened. We were leaving church and The Boy was not thrilled. He wanted us to sit in the car and wait for his dad to come out. The rest of us were hungry and wanted to head home. We waited a few minutes but knowing the friendly man I married I knew he could not walk through the church building and out again in two minutes. Virtually impossible. I explained to The Boy we could wait for him at home. Then had to keep explaining it. Finally Miss Thing said, "Stop! Let me talk to him." So she proceeded to explain. That seemed to pacify him enough and I was able to distract him with rolling the windows down until we got home.

Once there he was reminded that he hadn't wanted to come home in the first place. He wanted his dad. I was able to get him just inside the gate while the rest of us went inside to change clothes. I came out to find him sitting, still just inside the gate, in the rocks, determined to wait it out. Once again I tried to convince him to come inside to change clothes. He had no intention of listening, let alone doing whatever it was I was asking him to do.

Out walks Miss Thing. She asked what The Boy was doing so I told her. Then she said, "Let me talk to him." So she goes down the steps to and sits on the bottom step then says, "You need to do what your mom says. Come inside. Change your clothes then wait for Dada." To which he responds, "yeah!" and jumps up, climbs the stairs and walks inside.

I was so struck by this experience. Amazed that she could get through to him. Amazed that she recognized that she could get through to him. Just amazed. It does give me hope for what's to come for her. She may not always like what her life is like. I don't always like what my life is like. We all have those days. Even so I think she is built for it. These experiences help me see that she will be able to handle things far and above what I think she is capable of. I love that feeling.

Be amazed