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I'm Michelle Cox -- the owner of Lipstick to Crayons. I’m also a Mom to three kids (a teen, tween and toddler), a professional writer (www.michellemcox.com) and a blogger (www.fromthemom.com). And I love to save money (and help you do the same) via frugal deals and steals, coupons and other thrifty practices. My freelance writing business allows me to enjoy the great balance of being a stay-at-home/work-at-home mom, while also making time for blogging, running (ran the Chicago Marathon twice) some amateur photography and scrapbooking. I’m a St. Louis native, although I have lived outside of the city and the state. A few of my passions are amateur photography, scrapbooking and attending kids' sporting events.

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It is Good to be Loved

February 25th, 2010 • Related • Filed Under

My toddler is pretty attached to me. I love it and readily admit that fact. Because of my cool gig as a freelance writer/communications consultant, she rarely has to have a babysitter/daycare provider, so she spends most of her time with me.

She separates just fine when she goes to the YMCA nursery, but she’s been going there several times a week since she was six weeks old, and she’s never left in there much more than an hour. She also separates okay when I leave her with her Dad and/or her 14-year-old big sister (she is a BIG fan of both), or with my neighbor (who she completely adores). But she DOES NOT separate well when she has to go to the wonderful people who watch her for me when my freelance work demands that I meet face-to-face with clients, or when the workload requires more than just the time I can carve out during her nap, early in the morning and late a night. She’s even started looking for clues in the morning about her fate:

  • If I’m in my pajamas, no makeup, she is relaxed, no questions.
  • If I’m in my workout clothes, she is relaxed, no questions except maybe, “We going to the gym today Mommy? I see Sadie and Heed.” (Sedhi and Naheed — her favorite nursery caregivers.)
  • If I’m dressed casually, she starts asking questions.
  • If I’m dressed in business attire, she starts to cry and say, “I not go to Ms. Dana’s house.”

Yesterday, I learned that even if I’m in my pajamas, if I have on my makeup and have done my hair, she gets suspicious. While eating breakfast, she noticed these nuances and asked if she was going to to Ms. Dana’s house. When I said, yes, here was her reaction:

Then she made up this song:

Translation: “Hush little baby don’t say a word. Mommy will be back soon little bird.” That is adorable. And it IS good to be so loved. I know it won’t be long before she’s pushing away my kisses and wanting to spend most/all her time with her friends. For now, as much as it breaks my heart when she cries as I leave her, I will take it and embrace the love.

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There Are 2 Responses So Far. »

  1. #1 Lauralee Hensley on February 25, 2010:

    I like the changes she made to the song, they are better than the original “mommies going by you a mocking bird”.
    I like “mommies going to be back soon little bird.”
    Too precious.

  2. #2 lipsticktocrayons on February 25, 2010:

    I know — isn’tthat a hoot. I LOVE it. And it seems to comfort her to keep saying it.