So many times I feel like we use the word love to causally.....we love things, food, places, events, animals, people. It seems to be a word that easily comes out of our mouths without much thought or consideration. Love has never been a word Maria has used causally. She has understood the importance the word holds, probably a lot more than I do in many ways. Maria tells me frequently that she loves me and "I will love you forever, mom." Sweet and precious words from my 13 year old. In the 19 months that we have been together she has also learned that love also means being real.....she may not like something I say or do and yes, I'm even called mean mom at times. But through those moments we continue to build our relationship and family. Those moments tell me that Maria feels safe and comfortable to share her true feelings with me. She is honest about her likes and dislikes (although she tries her best not to hurt anyone's feelings). I'm so blessed to have such a loving kid. Today she was leaning on me at my parents' home. Content and happy just to hug me.
She is also growing in other ways. She is becoming more playful with our cats. Before Maria would always be afraid that they might hurt her. The has learned the way to tell if they are upset or playful. Recently she has started using her bare or sock covered foot to play with Libby when Libby is resting on her wheelchair. She has also started to express her feelings for our cats, by telling them she loves them when they choose to come or be with her. It might seem silly, but I really saw this as a step in expressing her feelings more. Funny enough the cats also show her their love in their own way....Libby insists on curling up on her wheelchair on days she takes a break from her braces and also every morning Libby is in the bathroom sink hanging out while Maria gets ready for the school day. Pippin sleeps on Maria's rug or wheelchair and will even tolerate being moved from room to room on it. Bogart will visit Maria in the bathroom to rub against her leg or will wait on her desk and then promptly move to her desk chair preventing her from sitting down just so she has to pet him. Even my parents' pets show Maria love in their own way. Animals are so therapeutic for kids....Maria loves having our pets.
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Maybe she can talk to Dave - we're trying to sweet talk him into a dog. (He's putting it off by saying not till after D is potty trained...)
ReplyDelete~ Dora Beth