Little Lion 🦁

“Oh did my baby wait up for me? look at you, so sleepy.”

Whose regression looks like long nights crying and squeezing a stuffie because you feel so very small and the world feels so very big.

Whose regression looks like using pacifiers to avoid biting your nails or worse.

Whose regression looks like laying in bed watching cartoons because your disability prevents you from doing much else.

Whose regression looks like longing for a childhood you never got to have, and feeling like you're drowning in nostalgia for a time of your life that never truly existed.

knowing that 75% of the time I am young enough that my pacifier is a key comfort item and if i start randomly whining, putting things up to/in my mouth, or nibbling on my hands, i need it. that even though i need it, i also need some encouragement/coaxing because even if im teeny tiny, i insist im a big girl n shake my head (like the spongebob episode where he convinces himself he doesnt need water lols!)

knowing i go FERAL for physical touch. being carried, pat, hugged, kissed, i love it all.

understanding that i can shift headspaces when faced with traumatic experiences or intense feelings and embracing the sudden flip with open arms

knowing I need help with taking on n off shirts, but insist on doing pants myself cuz all i gotta do is kick em off or step in n pull em up!

knowing how vulnerable i am and how important she is to me. knowing that shes mending something she didnt break, piece by piece, day by day.

that it means a lot to me when she says shes proud of me for a drawing or worksheet or anything I did!

that I have waited years for her and have even made cheesy/silly little moodboards n imagines during my wait that I bring up and share one day.

if im ever struggling with my words, she knows me well enough to know why im upset, crying, not okay, etc

(Lowkey bit of a yap. I wanted to make a moodboard but icl my brain is so fried and Im too tired n also eepy and I need to lock in to studying tmrw--)

Getting to prepare their outfit for them, helping them brush their hair and teeth, and then have some water in their bottle while I make food for us. Ahh, just a tiny day from the start, it’s so precious.

🧦 some kids use their stuffies more as decorations or gift them to younger relatives or friends - others still sleep with them every night!!

🦔 some babies switch to solids pretty quickly and soon have a favourite snack - others are still bottle- or even breastfed at a later age!!

🐛 some toddlers start having secrets with friends and only play with people their age - others still do lots of activities with their parents!!

🌾 some kids have more mature interests pretty quickly and can't wait to finally be allowed things they weren't before - others find comfort in their old movies and board games!!

🪩 some babies use pacis until they're trained off them and are diapered at all times - others rely on pacis only for a shorter time and are quickly potty trained!!

Soft carer who lulls their baby to sleep with the sound of their soothing voice. "Mama/papa/Bubba is here, little one. You're safe to nap."

Soft carer who gives them their bottle or sippy, shushing them softly when they're being fussy about napping.

Soft carer who tucks them in with their stuffie right by their side and makes their stuffie give them a kiss goodnight just like their carer.

Soft carer who makes sure their bedtime routine is done but if they can't do a full routine then they praise them for trying their best. "Good job little one, you did what you could, and that was your best. I'm proud of you."