It all comes back to connection. Humans are wired to seek safety and we feel our best when connected to others. How we connect is different for every person and these needs change each day.

It can take a long time for AB to show that she is connected to someone but, once she does show it, the depth of her love is endless.

The truth is, Annabelle is more deeply connected to the world than most of us. When the wind blows, she feels it so intensely that anything else she is doing becomes unimportant. When she wants to share her love with someone, she puts her whole body into it and doesn’t stop until she’s filled up both peoples hearts. She notices textures, light, sounds, images and studies them with unmatched focus.

After filling and I filling the stuffed animal bin for the fifth time, my mind begins to wander. It’s so easy for me to become distracted by other things I could be doing or to grow tired of the kind of repetitive play Annabelle enjoys. I’m sure many of us with young children have the tendency to pick up the phone (which is always next to us) instead of staying present for an extended playtime.

Think of all the opportunities we miss when we disconnect from our kids during their most engaged moments. We don’t hear all of the deep ideas they are working to understand through play. We miss their loving looks to see if we are watching as they make jokes or try something new.

I am continuously practicing staying present with myself, my girls, my husband, and the world around me. Being mindful and aware of the change I want to make is the first step. I’m going to keep reminding myself- it all comes back to connection.