About a week ago I was suffering from a sinus headache and left work early to take a nap before the kids came home. I must have fallen into a deep sleep, because I didn’t hear my mother-in-law enter the house with my little clan, and I didn’t hear my daughter enter my bedroom.
Pulled from a dream, I felt a tiny hand brush softly against my cheek, and opened my eyes to find my daughter staring back at me.
“Are you not feeling well, Mama? It’s not nap time.”
After taking a moment to orient myself, I explained to her that I came home to rest because I had a headache.
“Oh, you have a headache? That’s not good. You sleep now, Mama, so you can feel better. OK? You sleep now.”
She then patted my face, gave me a kiss on my cheek, crept from my bedroom, and shut the door behind her.
Should a 3 year old have the maturity to express this level of empathy? She amazes me, this caring and considerate little person, who is evolving before my eyes. I will make a point to remember moments like this when next she tries my patience.
