Together with my daughter, we gave her a new middle name – not one known by the courts, but one that she can own. She is one determined little tiger and when she isn’t sure if she can do something, she says to herself, “I’ve got this”. It’s endearing…and actually quite inspiring. So, we call her Sofia I’ve-got-this Ollila. It’s become a mantra for her. It’s her way to tell herself that she is ok and that she is brave.
Today was a big day for her, but I could tell that she was scared. She was going to get her 1st COVID shot since she is 9 years old. I could hear her in the car telling herself, “I’ve got this” a number of times. I smiled but didn’t interject. I just wanted to see how she would work her way through this emotionally difficult situation. We got to her school where the vaccine was going to be administered and I could see her face in the rearview mirror as we were parking. Her face was fraught with worry. Her eyes were trying to be brave but her quivering chin betrayed her. I turned around and asked her if she was ready. “You’ve got this?”, I asked. She tried to say yes, but only sobs emerged from her tiny body.
I jumped out of the car, opened the backseat and grabbed my baby girl. “I’m here. Shh. Shh. You are so brave. I am here”. I held her until indeed she was ready to get out of the car and make her way to the gymnasium where the vaccines were being administered. She held my hand as we crossed the threshold, squeezing tighter as we approached the table where the very nice nurse was sitting waiting for us. Again she cried and hugged onto me. “I’m here. Shh. Shh. You are so brave”, I said over and over. 2 seconds later it was over and a smile returned to the face of my “I’ve got this” mini-warrior.
You can do everything in your power to steal someone’s nerves, pump them up and make them feel invincible, but every now and again when the thing that they face is bigger than the manta you gave them, you just have to listen to the cues to know that what is really needed is to hear, “I’m here. Shh. Shh. You are so brave. I am here”. If you are quiet and observant, you will know when it is your time to do so.
Yours till butter flies,
