When meeting the daunting task of having to say goodbye to one of your favorite “little” friends following a faraway visit: listen carefully to his/her method of handling your unwanted departure. Recently, I experienced this event with one of my favorite and brightest two-year-old buddies. She gave me one of her most precious pouting, thoughtful expressions and proceeded to review the sequence of events for the day that she had gathered from our conversations and actions: “Grandma and Terry going to Marble Falls, Ab going school, _____ drive car school, ____ pick Ab up, Mama come home, Mama come home see Ab.” Well done, Ab! Of course, I proceeded in following up with extending her language by repeating her well-spoken sequence of the day back to her, affirming her beliefs. Then,
she was all ready to say goodbye and get in the car to go to school.
We listen to our children and learn how they comfort themselves!
Child of the Rock Garden 