Ruby is my first child to introduce me into the world of stranger anxiety. Sure I've had friends with kids that had it, but my kids? I thought they were immune or didn't carry the gene, or I was somehow so awesome at parenting that we didn't have to *cough* deal with such an issue. And then there was Miss Ruby. Sometimes I think it was all that time she and I spent together after my foot/feet surgery {what else can a practically bedridden mother do but hold, nurse, and hang out with her mobile-less infant?} that caused her to desire nobody else's presence but my own. Sometimes I think it was waiting until she was 6 months old to really start getting regular about leaving her with a sitter. And then sometimes I think perhaps it's just Ruby being Ruby.
While I've enjoyed having a snugly, affectionate baby who loves to be held, I also have found myself at a loss of what to do when I leave her in the care of others-- always screaming at the top of her lungs, sometimes even lunging for the floor in complete despair: How dare I leave her! Nursery has been a hurdle that we are still hurdling, bless those nursery leaders for their patience. I've come to a point where I don't (not usually anyway) personally mind the crying-- that's just what she does. I just feel for the person/people I am leaving her with. I know she's safe. I know she'll be fine. But the babysitter? The nursery leader? One can handle only so much crying before it makes you want to walk outside and shut the door and pretend that screaming child is someone else's charge. {Who me? Okay, so I may be speaking from experience.}
And so I warned sweet Miss Pam, I was sure when Ruby entered the water with her she'd be a screamer and a crier and we'd just deal with it. Even the kids prayed that morning for Ruby to have a good lesson. They were all anxious and made me promise to report to them how her lesson went.
This morning after I donned Ruby's swimsuit on she got this curious excitement about her. We've gone swimming recent enough for her to know what to associate that swimming suit with and forunately that makes her happy. She was more than happy to get in the car and go bye-bye. I just began thinking, oh my...all this happiness is just going vanish once I hand her off to Pam-- what a bummer. When we arrived at the Westfall's indoor pool where the lessons are, she got thoroughly excited, even though the child currently in the water with Miss Pam was crying her eyes out. I looked sympathetically at the mother, knowing soon it was going to be my own child wailing.
Ruby's turn soon came and I handed her off.
And her smile remained.
What?
No tears, no wailing for mom, no shrieking or flailing. She was content. Happy. She had this look like, "This is the life!" I was in shock. She pointed to me several times during the lesson, "Mama!" and to her buddy Dade, who was playing outside in the sandbox, calling out "Day! Day!"
She was happy the entire lesson. Perhaps a little nervous when on her back, but still pretty thrilled with the whole thing. Disbelieving with how happy she was I began thinking...whoah, it's going to be a nightmare when her lesson is over. She's going to scream and cry when she has to get out of the pool. She's going to be so mad.
Nope. Totally fine. No big deal. She was cool with getting dried and changing into clothes and leaving.
What can I say? The girl is full of surprises. I don't normally like surprises, but this surprise was a very welcome one.
Nope, no pictures of the aforementioned event. I was glued to the pool-- no time to snatch out a camera and snap a picture of the event. Tomorrow maybe. :) For now, here are some shots Kyle snapped on our pool opening day/Cade's baptism day/visit to her cousin Ben's gravesite.
7 comments:
Emma is similar, not a fan of others except me and in the last few months, my extended family. She loves her Daddy though. My biggest hurdle is night stuff, she only wants me to put her to sleep. I am so glad her swim lesson went awesome!
What a fun adventure. I can relate to that nervous feeling when you're about to do something with your kids that you don't think will go well. (our hurdle is the dentist) I loved hearing about your experience and how happy she was. Ms. Pam is a miracle worker!
Yes, kids are full of surprises. Even good surprises.
That last picture looks so much like Savannah!
So exciting! We signed Ellie up for 1-on-1 swimming lessons and she starts on Monday (it's every day for 2 weeks). She's a little spitfire, too, so it should be interesting. :) Glad you had such a positive experience!
dude, we are still hurdling nursery too!! ugh, 4 months later. i dont really care about jack, ha, but i KNOW the nursery leaders cringe when they see (and hear -- he starts crying as soon as sacrament ends because he knows what's next) us coming.
ps you look smokin hot in that picture. way to go mama!
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