I wanna hold your hand

Selah has been part of our family for 14 months, and things are good. She's doing great in school, she's jumped right into sports and church and groups of friends. She eats what we eat (with perhaps a few different preferences....like Berbere on her deviled eggs). We joke that we know we're adjusting as a family because the girls fight like sisters!

Most days, we don't think much about attachment.

Then there are days like last week.

We were visiting my parents, and we went on a walk to the fish pond with Nana and the cousins. As we were walking, Selah came up beside me and put her hand in mine. I was immediately aware of the fact that she put her hand in mine.

In 14 months, I'm not sure that's ever happened.

We hold hands all the time, but it's me reaching out for her.

Attachment is the process of learning that we need each other. Selah tells us every day that she loves us, but for 14 months, Selah has been trying to convince everyone that she can do it on her own. She tries to prove that she can pour her own milk on her cereal, pick out her own clothes, play on the computer by herself (grr...), and plan her life by herself.

Putting her hand in mine had all kinds of meaning. And she knew it too. We walked down the road together in silence for a few minutes, hand in hand, before she looked at me and said, "Mom, I held your hand!"

I know, I said...and I love it!