Little Ones Melt Our Hearts

My friend just told me a story about her granddaughter who is about 18 months old. The girl’s mother was rather overwhelmed and upset about her upcoming move (who wouldn’t be!) and the little one noticed. She went to her mother, gave her a hug and patted her on the back.  Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

It took me back quickly to my “little Amy.” I was in our bedroom on the telephone discussing a very disturbing situation and I was crying. Amy was about 20 months old, I’ll guess, and she was in the bedroom with me because I had to keep an eye on her. She didn’t cry, and she didn’t say a word. She went to the dresser and got the box of Kleenex and brought it to the bed. Then she climbed up onto the bed and brought a Kleenex over in her little hand and proceeded to hug me and try to wipe my tears. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

If there ever was a person who could cheer me up immediately, it was Amy on that day, and my other children on other occasions.

It’s not a one-way street, you know. So often the media speak of children as though they are only a burden, a force to reckon with, a pile of stinking, whining glop. But that is SO far from the truth. They give back all the time, nearly every day, in every way that they are able; and those ways increase as they grow (ok, with the possible exception of approximately ages 13-23 or so. But I digress….)