My 3-year-old daughter was sitting on the toilet. I was at the sink washing my hands. We were singing a song while we waited for her to pee. We sang that old Sesame Street pinball song, “1, 2, 3, 4, 5…”. At number “4” it jumps up several notes. She’s three. And she was trying so hard. Her eyebrows jumped up and she raised her voice and hit the note a little extra high. We briefly made eye contact in the mirror. She saw the delight flash across my face. She, this three-year-old, just for being her, made her mama smile with delight.
She said, “Mommy, I want to see your face when you sing that song.” She wanted more. More of the Delight in Me, more Enjoy with Me. More of the connection.
I said, “Okay.” She got off the toilet. She was standing, I was crouched down. We were looking each other in the eye. And we sang it, “1, 2, 3, 4…” And I looked. I looked into that sweet face and into those sweet eyes. And I was delighted. And she felt it.
I learned through Circle of Security Parenting that expressing Delight in our children, both on the top and the bottom of the Circle, teaches them that they are enough. It was enough for me, too. A high of connection and love. I will hold onto that moment forever.
By Tanya Hoover, Parent and registered COSP Facilitator, Canada. Originally posted on the blog https://joyandcompany.wordpress.com/
I invite you to share with me your comments, reflections, Circle stories and experiences with Circle of Security Parenting. Your submissions may be used in future blog posts, with all identifying information excluded, unless you specifically request to be identified. Contact me at brooke[at]circleofsecurityinternational[dot]com
