Breathe Papa, Breathe

by Anthony M. Brown –

My two year old is a shaman. Nicholas is the light of my husband’s and my life since he graced us with his presence in 2009. He recently had his first semi-serious fall. I say semi-serious because I don’t have a frame of reference for this, thankfully. He took a tumble and cut his forehead. It was clear that he was going to need stitches and, as he bled on my husband’s shoulder and we ran to get a cab to visit the Urgent Care in our neighborhood, I was beside myself. Until this moment, I didn’t understand just how emotional your child hurting themselves is for the parent.

I was still upset when we arrived at our destination and Nicholas saw my fear. He looked right into my eyes and, with a sweeping hand gesture, said, “Breathe Papa, breathe, breathe.”

I had no choice but to laugh, cry and hug him all at the same time. But I calmed down. And this proud papa can thank his little guru of a toddler for that.