Front Porch Rocking

Tonight Lyla had a hard time falling asleep. I think 4 days of zoo, beach and aquarium left her completely and utterly exhausted. She was so tired and so fussy this evening that I actually put Lyla to bed early thinking that she would just crash. Boy was I wrong!

For an hour she fussed, then cried, then screamed. This is not like my daughter. Usually she talks to herself as she unwinds before she falls asleep. She doesn't ever need me, or anyone, to rocker her or soothe her. I've always been so proud of Miss Independent. But as I listened to my sweet girl wail in her crib, I was torn. Do I rush in to comfort her, or do I keep with the Super Nanny and all others that say let them cry it out or they will always expect you to come rushing in? So what did I do? I went in. My heart just couldn't take her crying and it was getting worse instead of better.

So I picked her up and took her out on the front porch to rock. Within seconds the crying stopped. She laid there in my arms completely content. The soothing sounds of the cicadas and the rhythm of the rocking chair was the perfect combo. After some time the heaviness of sleep took over. And lets just say this front porch rocking did both of us some good.

Tonight Lyla need the comfort of her Mommy's arms to put her to sleep. But maybe more importantly Mommy needed the feel of her not so baby, baby falling asleep in the safety of her arms. For a brief 20 minutes time stood still. I didn't think about the suitcase that needs unpacking, the laundry that needs washing, the closets that need organizing or the house that needs cleaning. I simply sat, and rocked, and held on to the moment. Because all to soon that sleeping baby will be off to school and too big to need her mommy to rock her. So for tonight, front porch rocking was just right.