Today Is Your Day

Just a few updates on this amazing little girl. Earlier I posted about some parenting strategies I was going to try with her to avoid potty accidents. She went over a month accident-free! When she did have an accident, she was crushed to the point of tears that she worked so hard and had to start all over. I helped clean her up without complaint, and Daddy gave her so many hugs as we encouraged her to keep going because accidents happen.A few days later it was one of those GOOD mornings where I got up all cheerful and happy because my baby woke me up laughing. The kids were dancing to music while I made breakfast, and as we set the table I remembered L had told me this was a very special day because there was a birthday at school and she wanted to wear her favorite special underwear that she earned as a potty prize. We have a tradition of bringing out the “Today Is Your Day” plate for such occasions as this where we have something to celebrate or be excited about, so for the first time since we decided to instate the tradition I set the plate out for her. She couldn’t believe she got to use it, she was so thrilled! We had enough time to read together before the bus came, and she gave me the biggest hug and told me that today was going to be awesome.

Fast forward to later that afternoon when I got a call from school and tried to mentally prepare myself for bad news about a potty accident. I was a bit shocked and delighted when instead they told me she was selected for a Super Hero Award that would be presented to her the next day… and it was a surprise! I told my husband right away about how proud I was of her, and immediately started scheming about how to attend without exposing the baby or cutting naptime short.

Surprises for L

I wanted to continue her “awesome day” and just do something especially for her. L comes home with art workshop flyers throughout the year begging to go, but it is always too expensive for us and I can’t volunteer to bring the costs down during wrestling season when my husband is always gone. I saw that the library was doing a free Art City for Kids Program, and that same day was the last day of the event! The event was in just a couple of hours and I had a few errands to run, so more scheming was had and we surprised her by picking her up from school and bringing her to the art class. Check out the joy on her face!

They painted landscapes, and we thought her ocean island with a dolphin splashing turned out beautiful. On the way home she couldn’t stop thanking me. She told me she hadn’t painted for a long time and she was so happy she was able to go to an art class today. *Heart melt*

Super Hero Award

I didn’t find out what her award was for until I witnessed her receiving it from her beloved teacher. “For being so thoughtful; she’s always thinking of others first and thinking up things for us to do for each other.” It totally made sense to me. Her teacher had emailed me about how on the day of her daughter’s birthday, she was so touched when L led the whole class in a “birthday book project” that she presented to her daughter. There are several other stories L’s teacher has shared this year that fill me with joy at how special our little girl is. We love and cherish her, and are so happy she received the honor of being a Super Hero in her school.

I look up to her because she reminds me of how every day can be a “Today Is Your Day”.