She's a Lion!

My daughter, who just turned four, has just started school this week. New experiences, new friends, and a whole new way of life has crept into our household. Mornings used to be a calm, relaxing, slow pace start to the day. Now, they are filled with baby juggling, hair doing, lunch packing, and bus stop dashing - all about one to two hours before we used to wake up!!

One particular thing that has been extra stressful has been the bus ride on the way to school. After two mornings of the driver leaving without Norah being in a seat, I called in to comment that this needed to be changed, and I was assured that it would be.

Later that night just before falling asleep, Norah, wide-eyed and concerned, told me about how she was caught by two other students when she started to fall when the bus took off.

"The wheels were turning, but I wasn't in my seat!"

I told her that wouldn't be happening anymore, as I had called and spoken to the bus company about it. She smiled and fell asleep. I didn't mention to her that I was kind of happy that I only had to give the route number and no other details. Being an adult, I was a little concerned of Norah and the other children at our stop being treated a little differently if we had the 'complaining mom' at this stop.....

Fast forward to this morning when the bus stops and opens the doors...

Norah is glued to the sidewalk and doesn't start moving at all.

"It's fine, Norah. It will be fine."

She looks at me with her gorgeous blue eyes.. "Hold my hand."

I grab her hand and escort her up the stairs, where she stands firmly, looks the driver straight in the eyes, and says, "Remember what happened yesterday morning - when you took off before I was sitting? That is NOT allowed to happen!"

I'm not sure if he quite understood what she said. I'm not sure if he heard every word.  But I do know one thing. I could not be more proud of my little girl, when she looked at me and said, "It will be fine."

She smiled, took a seat, AND THEN, the bus took off.

There are these moments in life when you realize that sometimes our kids are teaching us valuable lessons. Before we went to sleep last night, she wanted to pray about the bus ride. I had no idea that she was praying for the courage to speak her piece. I feel so privileged to have had such a great example this morning of how to firmly assert myself when the situation is right.

We knew she was a little firecracker, but now I know she's got a lot of lion in there too, and her courage will come out when she needs it.