When I Get Bigger…

One thing B and I marvel at is the innate patience our little Lamp has.  It is not the normal patience of a toddler–in fact it is not the normal patience of most adults.  Sure she still wants her Cheerios the second she wakes up in the morning and if you tell her she can watch Doc McStuffins then why isn’t it on already???  But there is another type of patience in which she sees things far in the future and seems very content not to have it now, but just to know that one day it will happen.  These are her “When I get bigger can I…?” questions.  She’s been posing these questions for a long time, but recently I’ve tried to record as many as I can.  Here are some of the latest ones.

When I get bigger can I….

…walk and do the dishes?
…walk to the park by myself?  (not alone, she means walk independently)
…walk and go?  And open the front door?
…be a ballerina?  
…can I walk and hold your hand?  And walk with dada and sister too?
When I grow up will you do a hairstyle on me too?  Thanks.
When I get bigger can I climb all the trees?  I’m gonna climb that one and that one and that one and that one… and so on for about 20 trees.

And there are so many more.  Some of these questions are regular things any toddler has to wait until they’re bigger for, but many of these questions have to do with walking and other very simple things she sees us and other kids doing all the time.  I always look at her, smile and say Yes, you can do that when you get bigger.  Sometimes I say it with a catch in my throat, but I always say yes.  The truth is I’m not sure she will be able to do all these things and it hurts thinking about it, but I’m not sure she won’t be able to do them either.  So of course the answer is yes.

But really, I never get over the fact that all I say is yes and she is satisfied.  She is content simply with the idea of someday.  She doesn’t get frustrated about it now, it’s never asked when crying or angry… she just asks in her cheerful disposition and happily moves on.  Oh that girl.  She is remarkable.

*****

Like I said, sometimes I would get a lump in my throat because realistically it doesn’t seem like she’ll be able to do everything she wants to do.  Then I came across this video sent in by reader Gaye and honestly, I don’t even have a lump in my throat anymore, now I just think Yes!  You can do that when you get bigger!  Please watch this video of another remarkable girl named Kayla Wheeler.  I love this girls attitude and her parents’ attitudes as well.  As her mom said, “We always told her ‘There’s nothing you can’t do, we just might have to figure out a different way for you do to it.'”  I’ve always tried to have that mindset, but now I really believe it.  Please watch this video–it will blow your mind!