Defeated, I plop down on the floor in the living room. Boxes piled high, packing paper everywhere.
The boy has been miserable all day. If I say black, he says white.
"Seth why are you arguing with everything I say?"
"I'm NOT arguing!"
No AC in this house and it's been a scorcher. The heat, the move, the everything is throwing him off and my patience is wearing thin.
I send him to his new room to sit, while I try to get it together.
On the floor, I lean my back against the couch and close my eyes.
Soon, she climbs on my lap, straddling my hips with her legs. She zooms her face in close, studying mine. She does this.
"You have one eye." We always say, when she gets too close to focus on two.
Then, Riley does something she's never done before. She starts giving me "softies."
Softies help Riley calm down.
The feel of my fingernails up and down her arms has always soothed her. It almost puts her in a trance. Now, she's trying to comfort me with them.
My throat tightens.
"Thank you sweetie."
She smiles up at me.
"Your welcome Mom."
She's going to be okay.
We're all going to be okay.
About Me
- Michelle O'Neil
- I've written for Literary Mama,The Imperfect Parent,Cool Cleveland,The Mad as Hell Club and the anthologies pictured below. I'm also a contributor to Hopeful Parents. In recent former lives, I worked in radio news and as a registered nurse. I blog about one Hot Toddy,two great kiddos,spirituality, autism and whatever else tickles me. Our daughter Riley is nine and has Asperger's,our son Seth is seven. Thanks for stopping! Make yourself at home.
Anthologies I've contributed to:
Countdown to Riley's Service Dog
I support gay marriage
Blog Roll
- 4 Paws for Ability
- 4 Paws for Kheira
- Author Mom With Dogs
- Carnal Zen
- Changing Trains
- Charlie the North Star Dog
- Courtney Sheinmel
- Creative Ink
- DC IMPACT
- Drama Mama
- Fully Caffeinated
- GMO-FREE SHOPPING GUIDE
- Healing and Preventing Autism
- Hopeful Parents
- Identity Crisis
- Incipient Turvy
- Indiebound.org
- Jennifer Lauck
- Jess Wilson
- Kario
- Kim Stagliano
- Laura Goodin
- Lend 4 Health
- Lessons from Liberty
- Lisa Romeo
- Literary Mama
- Look Me In The Eye
- Mad As Hell Club
- MB12
- Mercurious
- Normal Films
- Pixie Mama
- Real(tor) Thoughts
- Reflections on the Pond
- Roughly Speaking
- Teachings of Abraham
- TED Talks
- Teen Autism
- The Believing Soul
- The Daily Puppy
- The Pioneer Woman
- This Mom
- Working With Words
- Writer Unboxed
13 comments:
Yes, you are all going to be OK, you already are. Riley has so much empathy you better watch out, she might get kicked right out of the spectrum if she keeps that up!
beautiful child.
beautiful mumma.
you're gonna' be just fine.
Yes, Seth too. We all have hard days. Hang in there, get some rest and let your lovely daughter give you all the softies she wants to. :)
You're going to be so much more than okay, Michelle. You're going to be great.
I can feel it coming.
OOph. She shimmers, that one.
Moves are so draining.
Very sweet of Riley.
Beautiful. Made me cry. Old soul, that one. You, too.
Just read this piece again. I'm sure you know, Michelle, that moving is one of the top 3 stressors one can experience. No wonder you need softies.
The great wonder is that Riley recognized that need and provided them. The wonder is that she offered you comfort in a way most familiar to her.
This is huge.
Delightful post. Whenever you question your talents as a parent, you need to remember this moment.
What a terrific team you guys are! You can rest assured that you will reap the benefits of what you've sown with your children, in the form of softies and all sorts of other treasures. Give Seth a hug for me. Moving sucks!
You guys are already OK, you kidding? What a sweet girl.
So sweet, so loving. Even on the tough days, you all are so much more than okay--you are fantastic!
Hmmmm...I wonder where she learned to love like that? Hmmm.... ;)
You are all fine right in this moment.
:)
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