Life Lessons From Lucy

“Mom, do you ever feel sad, but you don’t know why?”

Lucy and I sat in her bed talking at bedtime tonight. She’s been quick to tears lately and a little on edge and I was trying to figure out if something was bothering her (without actually asking of course, because I learned long ago that asking a kid what’s bothering her is useless). So we talked about friends and school, family too, what we’ve been doing and what we’d like to do. Then we just sat together, our feet all tangled up between us and that’s when tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. I didn't say a word, but took her hand and gave it a squeeze and she asked me if I ever felt sad but didn't know why.

And I thought, “Oh, sweet Lucy—do I ever. Sometimes it seems like I’ve spent a lifetime feeling sad and not knowing why, crying for no reason and thinking I must be the only one who feels this way.” But I said only, “Yes, Lucy, I do sometimes.” And then tears spilled down my cheeks too.

So there we sat, in her top bunk, feet tangled up together, holding hands and crying. Until she stuck out her tongue and caught a tear coming down her cheek and that made her grin. So I did the same thing and I grinned too. Then we looked at each other and started to laugh.                                                                                                                              

Which brings me to Life Lesson #457 from Lucy (who maybe really is practically never wrong just like she says): The act of trying to catch your own tears with your tongue has an excellent chance of turning them to laughter.

Thanks, Lu.