Today was a work day, and on work days, you need someone to help with the littles. The baby woke up before help had arrived, and I had to ask Sage for some help. I peek into her room and see that she is awake. I gotta sell this HARD, so that way she will help out with Gus.
I push back her hair, smile and lead into my pitch.
“Sage, Momma really needs you right now. I need someone to watch Gus, while I work in the bathroom. Can you help? Momma will pay you in…(pause for dramatic effect) MONEY!”
(*note: we don’t consistently pay in money for chores or help, so I think that this is something that she is really going to want)
She smiles, “I don’t need money. I just need some time with you!” She is excited by this. I don’t hesitate and say “ABSOLUTELY!” She hops out of bed and gets to watching the baby.
Sage’s love language is quality time. You can give her any thing in the world, but unless it is time, it won’t matter as much. I am most impressed that she spoke up to what it was she really wanted, and is voicing her desires. Money would have been nice, but she was letting me know her priorities and communicating her needs. It was just a little boost to let me know, maybe we are on the right track with each other.
Later in the day, she was asking about our time, I told her I wasn’t finished with my project. She says, “Momma stop what you are doing and come with me right now. I have to show you something.” I follow and she gets my old phone out. She is swiping away looking for a specific picture. She finally gets there and says “LOOK!” Its a photo of us at Lagoon, we are on a roller coaster, our hair is wet from the rain, she looks cold, but she says, “I haven’t seen you smile like that in a long time! I want to see your smile.”
I’m left stunned, because she is right. I haven’t smiled like that in a long time. I haven’t felt the exhilarating rush of life, only that my life is DEFINETLY a roller coaster of emotion right now. I want to smile for her. I want to smile with her. I want our time to be filled with only laughter and animated memories. She deserves my reserved smile, no more hiding it from her.
