AH HA!

As a Mommy, I think that life is full of those "Ah Ha!" parenting moments. I have them ALL.THE.TIME with the girls. You know what I am talking about, right?

Like the time Emma tried to stick a bobby pin the in an electrical outlet. "AH HA!" Time to cover all the outlets because my six year old has lost her marbles become very curious.

Or the first time Catherine told me "NO NO!" when I tried to change her diaper. "AH HA!" Time for this to become Daddy's job because my little cooperative girl has turned into an opinionated wiggle worm (and can run even the toughest out of a room with that diaper)!

Last night (at 12:46am, to be exact), I had another one of those moments. I was sound asleep. I am talking mouth open, drool on the pillow asleep. (I was even sleeping through Travis's snoring...which is a miracle!) All of the sudden, I feel this tap on my arm. I open my eyes and little Hannah is standing there. The conversation went like this:

Me: Hmmp?
Hannah: Mommy, I need to go potty.
Me: Ok...you know where the bathroom is, do you need help?
Hannah: No. (still standing there.)
Me: Ok then...just go potty.
Hannah: Ok.
(Goes to my bathroom, potties, comes out.)
Hannah: Mommy?
Me: Hmmm?
Hannah: I used all the toilet paper, so you might want to put some more on the roll
Me: I will in the morning.
Hannah: What if I need to go again and there's no toilet paper?
Me: I'll give you $5 if you go back to bed and don't get up until morning.
Hannah: COOL! (Runs and JUMPS back into her bed.)

I am sure, (if you are still reading this), you are wondering, "Where is the "AH HA" moment? ". Well, there are several.

1. Remind the girls to potty BEFORE bed in hopes that someday I get to sleep all night again.
2. Tell them that if they need to potty and don't need help, no need to wake Sleeping Beauty Mommy.
3. Switch sides of the bed with Travis (in case they forget moment #2).
4. Make sure there is an ample supply of toilet paper on the back of the potty to keep Hannah from worrying.
5. My little "used-to-tee-tee-in-the-bed-or-need-help-going-potty" Hannah is turning into a big "I-can-do-it-myself-even-in-the-dark-without-tee-teeing-on-myself" girl.

After she scammpered back to bed, I laid there for a minute and thought about all this. It's hard to believe how independent she has become. I like to think this is because we did something right, instilled confidence in her and taught her how to be a functioning human being, (I mean...it couldn't possibly be because we both sleep like rocks and it was either do it yourself or drag Sleeping Beauty Mommy out of bed.)

I did end up getting up. I went to make sure she got back under her covers and to tell her I love her. Because after all, no matter how big they all get, I will always tuck them in (even if it means getting up in the middle of the night).