Apologies.

Tonight Owen came into the living room where Kraig was sitting and sat down in his little wooden chair. With a deep sigh and nervous leg shake, he told Kraig that he was sorry for waking up at 5am. 

Kraig told him he didn't need to apologize. Owen replied that he knows he shouldn't wake up that early. 

Kraig explained that perhaps Owen's body just needs a sip of water or to go potty, and that then he could go back to sleep for a bit. Owen looked down at the ground and nodded knowingly. He sighed. 

We talked about how the sun is up earlier and stays out later, but that our bodies still need sleep during those times. 

That self-aware apology touched me so. It almost makes up for all the times he's woken up way too early. Almost. 

It most certainly makes me feel like maybe we're not all that terrible at this parenting gig. I mean, he's learning to communicate his emotions, he's reflecting on his actions, he is expressing his feelings clearly, and he is doing repair work (apologizing). I don't mean to brag, and perhaps none of this has anything to do with our parenting, but I think he is a pretty fantastic kid.