Mr.SemperFi has been very busy with ‘work’ lately. Meaning, TAD, then field time. This time around, it hasn’t been easy on me. 30 out of 40 days TAD the kiddos were sick. First Bravo, then Devil Pup, then Alpha and Bravo. It was nonstop. Most days I was running on barely 4 hours of sleep. I was constantly exhausted. Drained. However, I made it as we military wives always do. Why? How? I don’t know. Because that’s what you have to do. Any mother would if in the very same position. We just pull up our bootstraps and keep on marching on.
It’s not always that easy for our children, though. Since the girls are only 20 months, they can’t articulate as well the fact that they miss their daddy. Devil Pup, on the other hand, can, and since he’s a daddy’s boy he definitely has his moments where he’s feeling quite down when Mr.SemperFi is gone.
Recently my son had a minor breakdown. After being TAD for 40 days, Mr.SemperFi only got to be home one full day before having to head back to work. The next morning when my son woke up he came down to my bed, I’m guessing still hoping to see his daddy there, and instead found only me. He crawled in with me, whispered, “Good morning, Mommy”, and before he could even finish the words started crying. He wanted his daddy. He missed him. “Mommy, I need my daddy!” he sobbed. His little heart was hurting, and mine was breaking for him.
I held him close, and cuddled him until he calmed down and felt a little better, but I could see in his eyes his heart was still wounded. It’s not a pain you can just make go away, but I was desperately trying to think of anything that might help to heal his little heart.
Then it came to me. I asked him if he’d like me to make him a big cup of hot cocoa, and a smile slowly crept across his face. By the time he finished his cocoa the tears were gone and spirits were lifted.
I’ve always thought that a little hot cocoa goes a long ways for the heart and soul. It seems it has the same magic on little hearts and souls as well.
