On Tuesday my Little girl had surgery. She had grommets put into her eyes. Tiny little rubber circles that drain the fluid from her ears. But of course, it requires surgery, anaesthetic, and a morning of hell.
As I sat at the hospital that morning, waiting and waiting, and waiting a little more before we had to take her into theatre, I realised how proud I was of her. This little girl had not had breakfast. Now this is a big thing in her world. A routine that can not be broken. Food deprived. Juice deprived. And then being asked by strange people to do strange things. All I could think, was how scary it must have been for her.
Why are these people asking me to stand on a scale; what is this strange bracelet around my foot?
And I realise, just a little more, how important our role as parents is. To cradle, to protect and shield these innocent souls of more pain and suffering. Protecting them and nurturing them. Guiding them and reassuring them, it will be okay.
And just as much as I teach her, she teaches me. In ways that I never thought was possible.
So this week I am grateful for :
67. Bravery – because she was a “superstar”. And a star she was. No one likes to go into hospital, be deprived of your favourite things and go into a scary room. But bravery can conquer so much.
68. Determination – with her bravery, nothing stopped her. Nothing prevented her from continuing to be that cheeky monkey that she always is. And my, that determination is going to really catch up with me one day.
69. Resilience – because children teach you how strong they are; how quickly they can bounce back. Nothing can stop them. And if only we all had just a little bit more of this fire inside… don’t let anything get in the way.
What are you grateful for?
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