A Daddy's Job is to Protect His Babies
Last night, after an hour-and-a-half of my daughter screaming, crying, and saying "NO" to going to sleep in the foreign crib in my parents' house, I decided that our current methods, while effective at home, were not working at my parents' house. Since Violet was getting upset to the point that she almost couldn't breathe, I decided to distract her with one of her kids' music CDs and try to get her to relax a bit. I put on the CD and moved her from the crib to the bed, where we rested next to each other, sharing a pillow. Her little chest shuddered under my hand as she slowly relaxed to my touch and the music in the background. She sat up and pointed at the far wall.
"That, Dada. That."
"What honey? What are you pointing at? The closet door?"
"That. Cared Dada, I cared."
As I realized she was pointing out that the slightly cracked closet door was SCARING her, my heart broke... Here I was, trying to force her to go to bed in a foreign room in a foreign crib, and she wasn't fighting the sleep, she was just scared out of her little mind. And she was too far along to be able to formulate the sentence to tell me so.
I closed the door and had her lay back down, hugging her close and guiding her breath towards the soft, rhythmic pattern that reminds me of the ocean waves breaking gently on a soft sandy beach. When her eyes were finally shut in slumber, I softly got up and moved her angelic little body to the crib and covered her up with a homemade blanket my mother quilted for her. I turned off the music and gave her a kiss on the forehead before leaving the room and shutting the door softly behind me.
Dada is here for you honey. I'll always be here for you.
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Comments
I think we used to say "cared" instead of "scared" as well.
Mr. Ross when ever someone makes a comment on my blog i always take the time and effort to view their blog site to see what they are like and what interests them.
having just read your last blog a daddys job is to protect his babies.
Having had 2 boys myself I would never dream of letting one of my children cry for an hour and a half even if he or she was in a strange settings. I would have held and cuddeled them until they setteled down and went to sleep
Every parent is entitled to raise their children their own way (short of anything truly detrimental to their kids' wellbeing, in which case they should be strapped to the Rack). The happy and well-adjusted child my wife and I are raising is evidence enough to us that we're doing pretty well.
I also try to throw in some older jazz standards and classical music. Violet particularly enjoys "Peter and the Wolf", and likes to act out the various animals represented in the symphony's story.
awww....poor boo!
WTG for finally being able to figure out what the "monster" was. Its easier to "slay the dragon" when you know what and where it is! :) Go get 'em dad!
Aw, this made me cry. And I am not even a parent yet.
I give Bedtime with the Beatles to every new mom I know, and it's proven to be a hit. It nearly put me to sleep one time when I was babysitting! So if you haven't checked it out yet, I highly recommend it. :)
Great post. Even better response.
anyway, what a cute story!
What an amazingly touching view! We are taught to change diapers, to feed and bathe but nothing can quite prepare us for emotions that are so innocent or the instinct to protect!
Thanks for sharing - this is great!
I sing to my own daughter the lullabies of old, and tell the tales long remembered.
May you always be the mighty warrior-priest to your young princess.
(in a bit of a weird mood - been playing Diablo for hours. But her name does mean Princess, and she adores them, as well as the color pink ;) They grow fast... may you always be ready.)
This is so sweet.
great for being such a wonderful dad to your little girl! :)