This past Friday and Saturday, Matthew was in Calgary for a conference. He usually brings Emily with him to the church on Friday while he works, but as he wouldn’t be there and we didn’t have an alternative child care option, I took the day off of work. I’m not complaining in any way, I’m just setting the stage.
Friday morning, Emily and I got the dudes ready to catch the bus (They take the bus now! And love it!) and then situated ourselves on the couch. She hung out with Treehouse while I got some freelance stuff done and then we took the dog for a walk down to the creek. We had some (hilarious) chats and the dog got to run like the mad beast he is and we (she) threw leaves into the air.
We came home, had lunch, tidied up and then I went upstairs to change out of my yoga pants so that we could head out to pick up the boys from school (Not judging those who wear yoga pants in public; I’m just doing a public service by changing). Minutes later, I heard a piercing shriek from Emily and raced down two flights of stairs in order to see her standing there, with blood all around her left eye. I picked her up, raced her to the bathroom and quickly put a wet, cold cloth on the wound. I asked her what had happened.
“I don’t know!”
I knew that the scratch had to come from Kitty and I know that Kitty had never scratched someone unless they have been particularly rough with her, so I asked again.
“I’m not mad, sweetie. I just want to know what happened. Why did Kitty scratch you?”
She told me that she had picked up Kitty and knowing that Kitty is not a fan of being picked up (She LOVES a lap cuddle, though), I figured that Emily had picked her up awkwardly and it had resulted in said scratch. I explained to her (for the fiftieth time) that Kitty doesn’t like to be picked up and that the scratch could have been far scarier than it was.
When telling Matthew about the incident later on I finally allowed myself to cry because it could have been so much worse.
***
Saturday morning, Emily crawled in with me after she woke up. We talked about our good sleeps and what we had planned for the day and then she said, “My eye is still a little sore. Remember when I threw Kitty up in the air yesterday?” We talked some more about it and it turns out that Emily did, indeed, pick up our elderly cat and THROW HER UP IN THE AIR. The scratch makes even more sense, now.
***
Saturday afternoon, all three kids and I took the dog for a walk down to the creek.
As Emily and I were walking hand-in-hand, she brought up the scratch again.
“I’m sorry that I threw Kitty up into the air, Mommy.”
“I know, sweetie. I’m just glad the scratch isn’t worse.”
“Yeah…me too. But I’m sorry.”
“I know. It’s OK.”
“Sometimes we make mistakes.”
“Yes, we all make mistakes.”
“Sometimes we make mistakes. But it’s OK.”
She hit the nail on the head, that girl of mine. Sometimes we make mistakes. But I think that if we’re as willing as she was to say sorry then it really will be OK. If not now, then eventually.
Isn’t it amazing watching these little people learn the rules of life? Accidents, mistakes, intentions, cause and effect. Being a witness to them figure out their way. Hearing them say simple life truths – that sound so profound when they say it.
.-= annabelle´s last blog ..What else would I do with it =-.
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angella Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Yes! That’s exactly how it sounded when she said it. So simple, yet so profound.
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I could not agree more. Brilliant little girl you have there.
But wouldn’t it also be great if we could get certain people to ADMIT that they made a mistake and MAKE THEM SAY (or BE) SORRY????
(Not that I have any experience with that.)
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angella Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Me neither.
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I’m glad it wasn’t worse! Hope she heals up soon!
.-= Ashley´s last blog ..Beppy Owie =-.
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angella Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
It’s healing fast. Kids’ skin seems to be magical…
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I know plenty of adults who don’t even grasp the willing-to-say-you’re-sorry thing. She’s ahead of the game!
.-= Sizzle´s last blog ..Stuff On My Cat =-.
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angella Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
She’s a smart girl, that Emily.
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Oh gosh, the line skips right over her eyelid. Wow, lucky little girl, she is.
.-= Laura Radniecki´s last blog ..Noise =-.
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angella Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
I know, right? It freaked me out.
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Oh my word. Kitty got her vengence didn’t she?
Beautiful girl, beautiful mind, beautiful post.
.-= Kami’s Khlopchyk´s last blog ..Better Late than Never =-.
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angella Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Thanks, friend.
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Thank God she closed her eye. What a close call. I did laugh out loud, though, at her admission of throwing the kitty into the air. Man oh man. Kids.
.-= Danica´s last blog ..Making My Peace =-.
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angella Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Kids, indeed.
She’s never done it before and I have NO IDEA what possessed her to try it.
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She threw the cat into the air?! Wow, she is one strong girl! Not to mention wise – those words are so true.
I am glad the scratch wasn’t worse!
.-= Hannah´s last blog ..C25K =-.
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angella Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
You and me both.
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I’m so glad the cut wasn’t worse! Cats scare me.
.-= hillary´s last blog ..Downtown Vancouver Digging Through Your Bag Ripping Out The Pages Of The Local Music Mag =-.
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angella Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Kitty is actually old and docile. And lazy. Which explains her reaction. But, yeah…SO glad it wasn’t worse.
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What a sweetheart. And as someone with a kid who ended up with a massive scratch right next to her eye (and she still has a scar on her cheek but it’s so faint that unless you know it’s there you won’t see it) I know EXACTLY how scary that is. Ugh, I’m so glad she wasn’t hurt more.
And this is once again an example of very profound words of wisdom from a child. If only we could all remember that.
.-= Sherry´s last blog ..How we spend our evenings =-.
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angella Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
Amen.
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What a wise child. And the fact that she realizes mistakes happen and we can move on, means she has some pretty amazing parents also.
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angella Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Hardly amazing. Just doing our best. But thank you.
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(a) I would have fainted (b) *shudder* (c) OMG SHE THREW KITTY?
We can never leave her and G alone together. Ever.
.-= katie | motherbumper´s last blog ..City Mouse In Da House =-.
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angella Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Or, we COULD leave them alone together and videotape it. THINK OF THE BLOG FODDER.
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Wise words from such a young lady.
I, unfortunately, make mistakes every day. But that is part of being human.
Glad she’s okay.
.-= Elaine´s last blog ..Ill Miss These Times Someday- Right =-.
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angella Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Me too. And, yeah. I make multiple mistakes daily. Thanks be for grace.
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“Sometimes we make mistakes. But it’s OK.”
Wise wise little (and oh so lovely) Emily.
.-= Kerri Anne´s last blog ..I Can Be Alone Yeah- I Can Watch A Sunset On My Own =-.
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That a pretty smart little chickie-poo you’ve got there. I wonder where she gets it from? Hmm {thinks and points finger at YOU!}
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Since she is ok, and Kitty is ok, can I say that the “throwing the cat up in the air” makes me laugh and laugh.
Maybe because my brother, when he was very young- five perhaps?- thought it would be fun to swing little kitties off of a porch by their tails and launch them through the air. Those kitties were ok too!
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Truth Be Told =-.
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