10
"If you look for things to celebrate you will find a lot more thing that are worth celebrating"
Ton assured Heather as he hugged her at the door, the goodie bag clutched in her hands, "I always look for a reason for cake. You know … almost every day can be a cake day. You gotta look for the good stuff, you will find less bed stuff then."
She was nodding as she took the advice and the poor mother turned to Ianto "Thank you so much. I have always feared she would be a bully with no friends her entire life. Unfortunately my Mother-in-law was the same."
"As much as Imp there is like me … he is still himself and I try not to compare us all the time" Ianto counselled "If you tell her she is naughty she will think she is and act accordingly. Try more praise instead of scolding. You might be surprised as the change. Look at Ton, he works with love. All he works with. For him to tell someone off it must be a hanging offence. Everything else is taken as something to think about and turn around."
"I will try" she nodded, "We tried sticker charts and stuff, money jars …"
"Nothing beats a cuddle and some warm praise" Ianto assured her, "It will help your relationship with her as well. She will remember that you are there to guide her, not criticise"
"I've not seen her so happy, the touching and companionship is just so … so lovely really" she sighed.
"Well, next weekend we are having a BBQ before the weather gets too cold. Come, bring your husband" Ianto encouraged "She will be able to ride a horse, we can't do that today as there are too many children to make it fair."
"Oh! She loves horses!"
"I figured" Ianto smiled back and he offered his hand to help her down the steps, such an old fashioned thing to do. As she slid her hand into his she was reminded of her own father, his gentle warmth and knew how lucky she was to have found this spot for her child.
They said he was a Child Whisperer.
Now she saw why.
Heather sang and skipped all the way home, not a single stomp.
A good day.