Hands tucked, please.

I still rock Benjamin to sleep. I know, I know, such a travesty in this day and age of expecting your children to become adults by the time they are two. I'm not really sure what that "independence" accomplishes really. Are they truly independent because they can put themselves to sleep if they scream for 20 minutes beforehand? I've noticed that children who are expected to be miniature adults have more frequent outbursts and become unraveled more easily at the tiniest little hiccup in their lives. Of course, there are some children who are perfectly content with putting themselves to sleep and never make a peep about it. This is the perfect situation for all involved, right? Like many others, my situation is not that easy. Benjamin has never been an easy child, and this sleep situation perfectly fits alongside his disposition. I'm not saying my way is the right way; I'm saying that my way is the right way for us right now. I enjoy holding him and watching him slowly unwind and relax and drift off. Right as he's made the decision that he is sleepy and wants to sleep, he tucks his hands in the sleeves of my shirt. I have no idea why he does this, but it is indeed a very sweet moment between the two of us.

"Children and mothers never really part- bound in the beating of each others' heart." -Charlotte Gray