Mommy Referal

Having a child talk on the phone long distance to grandparents, or anyone, isn't always easy. Kids are so easily distracted and lose the conversation thread along the way, making a phone conversation challenging at best. Since our families are long distance and talking on the phone is the only way to communicate with the grandparents, we work hard on phone skills with Madison and McKenzie. Often times, we "feed" lines to them to repeat to Nanny, Pa, and Grandma.

"I played basketball today ..."
"I love you Nanny ..."
"I miss you Grandma"

And then something special happened last night. McKenzie had an actual conversation with Dad/Pa on the phone last night. I didn't have to feed one line to her. She shared what was on her mind and Dad understood. And then she said the thing that brought me to my knees and I will never forget. McKenzie, unprompted, said to my dad, "My mommy is the best mommy in the whole world."

Tears sprang to my eyes and I couldn't catch my breath. McKenzie was beaming and I felt so proud. And so relieved that she was uneffected by my constant yelling to "hurry up!" or "keep your hands to yourself" or "Mommy needs a time out" or "BE QUIET!!!" While I beat myself up for yelling or being impatient, McKenzie just loves me. Isn't that amazing? While I count my shortcomings as a mother (don't make me list them because I don't have that much memory on my computer!), she thinks I'm the best mommy in the world.

I am still blown away by this sweet little statement from my sweet little girl. Not only did she have her own original thought and share it with someone else, but she she also expressed love verbally. McKenzie came to us with very few words in her vocabulary. I thought for sure we were dealing with major developmental delays based on her language skills. She had been neglected for so long and had mastered the art of hiding her light. I worried those first few months about her ability to attach in a healthy way.

For all the pain she lived in the first year of her life, my baby is ok. McKenzie talks all the time and her vocabulary increases weekly it seems. She is a loving, happy little girl and I am proud to be her mother. I cannot imagine my life without her.

On a side note, I really needed her to say or do something wonderful since she came home from playing next door Sunday night with fingernail polish in her hair. Do you even know how to remove fingernail polish from hair? I ran through the motherly check list of peanut butter for gum, etc but nothing came to mind for fingernail polish except for fingernail polish remover which can't possibly be good for hair. Just in case this ever happens to you, please remember a healthy combination of Pantene and prayer will eventually get it out. And you will need the prayer part when your older child defends the entire situation by saying, "At least it is sparkly." Help me, Jesus, was my only response. As always, He did.