BFF: Best Friends for Five (minutes)

"You no my friend mommy?" says a talkative two year old with pasta sauce on her cheeks and a beat up Barbie in her hand.  "Yes, Tysie, we're friends, and we're family too... I'm your mommy and you're my daughter so that makes us the best of both."  My mouth said the words as my feet "mopped" the floor and I shoved clean sippy cups into the crowed cabinet.  Will she ever know how much I love her and her sister?  Does she know that I want to teach her all that’s wonderful in our world? 
At t- minus 4 months until her third birthday, my spicy Tysie is full of creative conversation and head scratching subjects.  Her latest obsession is the difference between friends and family.  I mistakenly corrected my little literal one when she called Miss cousin Maddie her “friend” at a recent family event.  “Maddie’s not your friend, Tysie, she’s your cousin” I spoke so soon.  Stumped, she seemed saddened simply by the thought of Maddie not being her friend.  I tried to recover by explaining that we’re not ONLY friends but family TOO which makes for an even more remarkable relationship.  Unfortunately, what I felt was a fantastic explanation fell on confused and cheerless ears.  Shortly after, and to my relief, she was chasing her “non-friend/cousin” Maddie through the grass not caring about the word that describes their special bond.

Now, a few days later, Tysie plays with a different set of second cousins on a hot summer day and explains to them in a confident tone that they are NOT friends.  A 7 and 10 year old are easily hurt by the mixed-up words of a super cute two year old and I may be the only one who understands her statements meaning.  My silly slip up has left this darling daughter of mine trying to figure out who her friends and family are.  Tonight I pray that as my daughters grow they nurture both types of relationships to the fullest because in the end it’s our relationships that mean the most.

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." ~ unknown