Lucy says nothing about practicing when we try to put her down to sleep at night. Adam has devised a whole, elaborate ritual per the advice of those very same books, that involves putting on jammies, reading a book, kissing every one of her stuffed animals and saying night-night to various household objects, including my wardrobe. And then, the second she s in the crib, she shrieks like her mattress is made out of nails. And, though I try to be firm, every once in awhile, I take her out, and let her fall asleep in my arms. She gets warm and heavy, and I get weepy just looking at her pink cheeks and soft eyelashes.
Independence is a good thing.
It s a sign that Lucy is fast turning into a toddler, and I am so proud of all the things she s learning to do. But I confess that I m secretly glad that in spite of all her accomplishments, she still needs me, all the time. The truth is, I need her just as much. Read more Mommy Chronicles Martha Brockenbrough is Lucy's mother, a writer and a terrible, terrible housekeeper. Her work also appears on Encarta.