Please Leave a Message

Whenever the phone rang during the dinner or family times of my childhood, my father would announce the same decree to every responding child: "If it's important, they'll leave a message."

I've tried to take the same attitude with my children: If it's important, they'll let me know (aka cry).

And it's taken me several months, nay, years, for me to realize if it's a small whimper followed by silence, it was a moment of discomfort and the child self-soothed -- no need to go into their room and wake them up with my angst and commotion.

So very early this morning when I heard a small cry from Jane's room, I didn't worry because it was followed by utter silence.

Enter this morning: I came into her room, with a changed and fed Elliot to her sitting happily on her bed.

"Wet, Mama. Wet," she said pointing to her bed.

Upon investigation: Vomit. She'd slept in it.

There's only two words for this: Awe Some.

And months of worry training go out the window (sorry, Lane). I hope these children learn to sleep through a constant creaking door.