I always sing at least one song to Kylee when I put her to bed at night (although it usually ends up being more like 5 unless she is too exhausted to last that long). The catch is that she has to have her head on her pillow before I will start singing (and if her head leaves the pillow the song stops until she lays back down). Some nights it's a smooth process to get her to settle down and other nights it is a real struggle. Well, the other night it was a real struggle. Kylee wouldn't lay her head down, but was still demanding songs and no matter how much I tried I couldn't get her to see the connection between the two. So, finally, after a few minutes I just said, "I'm sorry Kylee. I have to go. If you aren't going to lay down then I won't be able to sing," and I left the room and went downstairs. She immediately started crying and kept crying for a few minutes until I didn't hear her anymore.
Just when I thought she was drifting off I heard her sweet little voice call out, "Mom, I stopped crying. I'm ready for you to sing." How do you say no to that? I didn't.
Then she says, "Mom, Cody helped me stop crying. He helped me be happy."
I thanked Cody for being such a nice brother and gave them both kisses and sang a song. I left their room loving my kids about 20 times more than when I entered.
*******
And then there was today. We came home from church at 4:00 hungry and tired (especially the kids). I helped Kylee change out of her church clothes and asked Cody to do the same. As soon as he finished he could come down and eat a snack with us before dinner was ready. Well, he crumbled. He claimed he was too hungry to get the step stool out of the bathroom so that he could reach a shirt in his closet, that he had nothing to wear, and that he needed help. He was a mess, crying and refusing to get off his bed and do anything. Meanwhile the rest of us came downstairs, had a snack, got dinner ready, and invited Sara, Bob, and Duncan over to eat with us.
ONE and A HALF HOURS later Cody still hadn't budged. Talk about having a rough day. Poor kid. There we sat: Steve, Kylee, me, Sara, Bob, and Duncan at the table ready to pray and eat. As usual, Kylee asked to say the prayer. Right before the prayer we called up to Cody one more time to see if was ready to join us yet. Then Kylee said she wanted to go upstairs and help Cody be happy (like he had helped her just a few days before). Steve suggested she say the prayer and ask that Cody can be happy. Kylee said the prayer and then went upstairs. About 10 minutes later Cody and Kylee came downstairs. Bob and Sara told Cody they were happy to see him and they were glad he came downstairs.
He simply said, "Kylee helped me get dressed."
*****
There is nothing better for me than my kids helping each other. I wish I could say this was an every day occurrence for our family. Maybe someday. Until then I'll gladly take the bits I get here and there.
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