Today, I heard a crash in Tatum’s room right after I put her down for a nap. Then I heard five more. I knew she did not want to go down, but this was not expected. Every day, I put in books in her crib so she can read and chill a bit as she falls asleep. (This is only in the daytime) Today, I put in her three Jesus books and two others. What do you suppose was the crashing noise?
Yes….all the books came tumbling down the back side of her bed.
I rushed in with a very sad look on my face. Then I said, “Oh my gosh! Jesus! You dropped Jesus!! Tatum? That is so sad!” Then I proceeded to pick them up and place them on the dresser as I caressed and kissed the five books. She had a look of sorrow as well…deep sorrow. Then I walked out. She screamed for her books! I let her calm down, and then I proceeded to walk back in. I merely said, “What do you say?” She then apologized and heaved from her crying. I said, “Maybe we need to try this again, what do you think? Do you want to read or not?” She said she did, and I let her have them back. The rest of the “nap” was her singing and talking to her books as usual.
Now, what I am learning is that she is comprehending happy vs. sad. We see these emotions in the books we read, and now when we see someone crying or mad…or when I am upset with her, I say I am sad. (or she asks me happy? sad?) She knows this means things are not going well. Tatum seems to be developing a beautiful piece of empathy. To be able to feel bad with me even when she has done wrong is something I don’t think I could have seen her do if I was gone all the time. How could I cultivate it? It comes from a relationship that we are building together.
Mommy becomes very sad if Tatum doesn’t mind her, and Tatum does not like a sad mommy.