What do you say when your little girl says that to you? I could feel the tears welling in my eyes and the back of my throat tightening. It was similar to being smacked across the face. How in the world could she think I would EVER do anything to hurt her, let alone ‘ruin her heart’?
The saddest part: she didn’t even know why she was saying it. Her morning was divine….playing with friends and acting like a ‘big’ little girl. It was after a brief rest in the afternoon that the waterworks started. Everything from, ‘No, you may not fill up on milk right before dinner.’ to her little brother closing a drawer she had opened was enough to bring on the tears. Oh..and they were so real….huge and round and wet. I was positive there had to be something else going on. It was when I asked why she was having such a hard time, why she was so emotional, that she told me I was ‘ruining her heart’.
After many fruitless attempts at comfort, I suggested she head to her room to calm down. Then it got worse. She said you’re hurting my throat. When I asked how, she said, “You’re hurting my feelings. My feelings are right there (pointing right where her imaginary Adam’s apple sites) and you are hurting them.”
Clearly, not my best day as a Mommy. All I could do was hug her. At least the hugs worked. The crying eventually tapered off to a hiccup, we wiped the big crocodile tears from her cheeks and even managed to get a few evening giggles.
Baby Girl, I promise, I will never, EVER, ruin your heart.
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