a true story about belonging
He Said 'Daddy's Home' And She Hid
He'd been smiling since the driveway, and she ducked behind my legs like she'd never seen him before.
the realization
He kept reaching harder and she kept shrinking. When he finally stopped chasing her and just sat down on the floor next to us, she came to him on her own. She didn't need to be convinced. She needed a second to be sure it was really him.
He'd been smiling since the driveway. I heard the keys, the door, that big 'Daddy's home!' And Mia, who'd asked for him all afternoon, took one look and hid behind my legs.
have you ever felt this way too?
So he tried harder. Down on his knees, arms wide, 'You forget me already?' She turned her face into my thigh. The more he reached, the smaller she got, and I watched his smile crack right down the middle. I almost pushed her forward. Go on, it's Daddy, you love Daddy. I could feel the words coming.
But he beat me to it. He stopped asking. Bag down. Shoes off. And he just sat right there on the floor, not reaching, not begging, and said it quiet. 'I'm here.'
Then she noticed his sock. The little hole in the left one, the one I keep meaning to throw out. She stared at it. Same hole. It was really him. One step, and then his whole lap.
what I found myself saying
"I stopped saying 'go hug Daddy' and just let her stay tucked against me."
"He didn't chase her. He sat down and said it small — 'I'm here.'"
"No 'you love Daddy, remember?' We just waited until she was sure."
