We are smack dab in the middle of potty training. With great days and not so great days. I do not believe in disciplining with training. I think encouragement works best and I tell Heidi that accidents happen and just try to remind her to "listen to her little body" next time and remember to go potty.
Earlier today the girls were playing dress up and Heidi was wearing a swimsuit without a pull-up on. I reminded her to be sure and go to the potty if she had to go and not in her swimsuit. It couldn't have been 5 whole minutes when she tells me she needs to change her shoes because hers were wet. I lost my cool and I yelled. "Why did you do that?! I just told you not to do that!!" Well, her little face immediately puckers up and she starts crying. I tell her "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to yell at you, but I just don't understand why you did that right after we talked about going to the potty". This didn't help at all and I know she could still detect the agitation in my voice. I wanted to cry too because I had made her feel so bad!
I clean her up and begin to clean up the floor in the living room. When I'm done I find her in the playroom. I didn't realize she had gone to look for Zoe Anna and I walked in right as she found her. She cries to Zoe "Mommy got mad at me cuz I tee-tee'd in my swimsuit!" Zoe Anna gets closer to her and brushes her hair out of her face ever so gently and says "that's ok Heidi. Accidents happen." Then she gives her a big hug and continues to rub her hair or her arm. Now I really want to cry!!!
I really love that Heidi went to Zoe for comfort. And I am thankful that Zoe was able to comfort her, and did so perfectly and so lovingly. I messed up and Zoe was the one who was able to fix it. Later I apologized to Heidi again (more sincerely) and of course she was ok and loved me once again. It is such a comfort to me to know that if I mess up they have each other to look to for comfort and understanding. Hopefully I won't mess up too often, but I know that they will take care of each other no matter what the situation is.
Later, I look out the window and see Caleigh and Zoe Anna playing on the trampoline. Caleigh is very patiently teaching Zoe a cheer and Zoe is obviously trying her best to follow her directions to a T. I watch them for the longest without them knowing. I especially love to see Caleigh spending quality time with her sisters because there is such an age gap, 8 years between her and Zoe Anna and 10 years with Heidi. Zoe and Heidi are 20 months apart, so they almost didn't have a choice whether or not they wanted to be close. It takes more of an effort for Caleigh and it makes me so happy that she does make an effort. Of course, her little sisters adore her (esp. Zoe)!!
After they come in, I tell Caleigh that I was watching and that she probably doesn't realize how big a deal that was to Zoe Anna. These are the type of moments in childhood that you always remember, your big sis taking time to teach you a cheer or let you come play with her stuff or hang out with her and her friends or whatever. No matter how small or insignificant something may seem, it is still a memory.
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