Emme Emmers

A few months ago, Emme and I had an experience that made me realize that she sometimes gets the short end of the stick because she is the middle child. She isn't quite big enough to do the things that Elijah can, but now that I have Gideon demanding of my time I can't treat her like the tiny toddler she is. I realized that I expect a lot from her. Before you read this story, please remember that I am a decent mom...lol I am not mean to my kids intentionally.
For Elijah's birthday he took in 24 cupcakes to his class. The morning that he was going to take them in was especially cold and very icy. We got to the school and I got out of the car and put Gideon in his baby carrier on my chest and I zipped him into my coat. Then I got out Elijah and Emme. Elijah was good, he was alright walking on his own, but Emme took one look at the icy parking lot and she wanted nothing to do with it. As I was already carrying Gideon and a huge container of cupcakes I told Emme that she was going to have to not just walk but run because it was so cold. We made it halfway to the school when she wiped out hard core. She ended up face first on the black top and started screaming. So there I was with Gideon on my front so I couldn't bend over, holding the cupcakes. I told Emme she needed to get up and that I couldn't help her unless she stood up, then I could hug her. She refused and started screaming for Daddy. I had no other option but to start nudging her with the toe of my boot (mean I know.) I was like "Emme come on baby, up you go." No success. Finally one of the teacher's aides saw what was happening and she volunteered to take Elijah and his cupcakes to his class. With the cupcakes gone I could finally pick Emme up. I held her the best I could with Gideon, and told her I was sorry. She told me that it was okay I had been not nice, and that she was okay.
Emme has always been a very independent child. She has always been good at just telling me what she needs, and then accepting what I give her, even when it wasn't as much as she deserved.. This week Emme has been very sick. Sicker than she ever has been, and it has made me appreciate Emme in a different way than I had. She has been very snuggly with me and she has even wanted me instead of Dustin a few times (a very rare choice.) She  has even slept with me a few times this week which is the only time in her entire life that she has ever wanted to be in our bed. Despite being incredibly sick with both the throw-ups and the poops, she has had no accidents. I have realized this week that I most definately take for granted Emme's independence and her very mature personality. I am definately going to make more time for snuggles with my Emme.