It's amazing what you can learn from a 3 year old

It's been cold as heck this week in Houston, Texas. One of the main perks of moving down south was to try to escape the cold, so I'm really disappointed that I've had to reach deep into the back of my closet to find a bunch of old snowboarding winter clothes to wear to try to keep warm through this freeze.

With cold weather comes crazy children at the school. They all have cabin fever from being cooped up, and I don't blame them, but... wow, it's driving me crazy too.

On Friday, I'm sitting on the floor with my back up against the wall, watching my precious three year-olds attempt to hula-hoop to their favorite song from the Disney movie, Cars (it's the Rascal Flats song, and if I didn't like the band I probably would have never burned a disk that is repeated as often as this one is). Although the music is blaring, my "teacher ears" can hear from the distance somebody crying. After surveying the room, there's a sweet little boy who is farely new to the class hiding under a table and crying softly. He is easily coaxed to come out and gladly accepts letting me "cradle" him and smoothing his hair. I try not to really "baby" my 3's, but there are times where really.... a good cuddle is necessary.

As we sit together and he's wiping his tears, I ask him what's wrong. He looks at me and begins to bawl again, telling me that he misses his sister and wants to play with her right now. I nod my head and continue to console him, with my efforts going nowhere.

"But sweetie, she has to play in her class and you have to play in yours. You both can make new friends and be happy, and then see each other later on. She's very happy, so you should try to be too."

Now at this point, I stop to think about what I was really telling this boy. After truly hearing my own advice, I'm immediately hit by a hypocritical slap in the face. Who was I to tell him to move on from a loved one, when I currently couldn't do so myself? He's very happy, I should try to be too....

I continued to hold him in my lap and rocked to the song, Life is a Highway, and told the boy that it's ok to be sad.... only time is going to help. Because that much I know is true.