Safe

We've been working really hard with our sons on feeling confident and safe in expressing emotions verbally.  We've also been working on our sons learning to rely on each other a bit more for comfort or support or help, instead of only needing Mom or Dad.

Tonight Little Bug and Little Bro had to share Little Bro's bed, although bed sharing has never been a strong point for either of our sons.  Little Bug's anxiety has been at a high level all week after some lightning storms shook his nighttime confidence.  So throwing in a different bed, in combination with the fact that his bed wasn't even in his room as a fall back, was causing him some apparent angst.

After getting out of bed a couple times, Little Big finally expressed what he was feeling.

Little Bug: "I'm nervous."
Little Bro: "I'll keep you safe, Little Bug."

And with that promise, our notoriously anxious and often inconsolable Little Bug crawled back in bed, spooned his little brother, and together, heads touching, they both fell into a deeper sleep than we have seen all week.

Brotherhood, man.  It blows my mind sometimes.