When Grace was 5 years old we went through a hard patch in our relationship. She got mad at me a lot. She told me she hated me a lot. She dropped the big bomb on occasion,"I wish I had a different family!" She even ran away from home once, but thankfully she only made it next door before tears and fear overcame her.
I cried a lot and doubted my parenting and her attachment and then one day.....she loved me again.
Yep, the pendulum has swung all the way the other direction. Lately it has been a regular love fest around here. I don't really know what changed other than the fact that she got older and a lot less emotional. She is much happier, calmer, and so grown up all of a sudden. Grace seeks me out for extra hugs and kisses. Not in that clingy/insecure way, but because she genuinely wants extra love from me. She's been singing and dancing and joyful in a whole new way. And one of my favorite side effects of all the love--adorable little love letters.
She sneaks them onto my desk, slides them under my keyboard. Tapes them onto my screen. I decided I had better document these little tokens of love before they get lost in the clutter. Or before her mood changes and she loves me a little less. Or she becomes a teenager.
I'll be her BFF as long as she'll let me.
