For quite some time now, we've been asking, telling, pleading with Gracie to use her flashlight to find her way to the bathroom in the middle of the night when she needs to go "peeps". She has always come in to get one of us (usually Tim as he sleeps on the door side of the bed) to make the trip with her. I think she chooses him because she'll often convince him to scratch her back, etc. after she is finished and back in bed. I, on the other hand, make the complete trip, including kissing and covering her back up, without ever opening my eyes! I love to sleep and unless the girls were babies and needed to nurse...I'd rather not be disturbed! (I sound SO mean!) Anyway, last night, I heard Gracie get out of bed. Her door was closed as always. I heard her because anytime she gets out of bed it sounds like a herd of elephants on a stampede! Plus, the upstairs floors are creaky. I heard her door open and saw light from a flashlight. I then heard her walk to the bathroom, a long pause, and then the toilet flushed. (I did NOT hear water run in the sink...but that's a problem I'll tackle at another time.!) Then, I heard her walk back to her room...there were a few flashes of light as though she was waving the flashlight around, and then her door closed and that was then end of it.
Now, on Sunday mornings, Tim leaves for church at about 6:45. He always comes upstairs and kisses me good-bye which is my cue to get up and moving. This morning after he kissed me he said, "did you hear Gracie get up in the night and go peeps by herself?" I answered that I had. Then he said, "I'm kind of sad...she's growing up. I hope she still asks me for help once in awhile."
I thought that was quite sweet and yet funny because we've been wanting her to do this for so long. They do grow up so fast...so go hug your kids or your spouse or someone you love right now while you can!