Cry it out?

The other day, my little peanut was crying her eyes out. She was long overdue for a nap, but I could not get her to sleep. I checked her diaper (dry), I burped her (I got one, but she still screamed), I sang to her, bounced her, offered to nurse her and massaged her tummy in case of gas. And then I did it all over again. After 45 minutes, she was still crying and I was ready to join her. I realized that I could not help her. All I was doing was letting myself unravel. And if I unraveled completely, what good would I be to her?
So I checked once again for any obvious causes of discomfort, and then walked away from the cradle. I couldn't stand to hear her cry, so I went into the bathroom, closed the door and took a much-needed shower. When I came out, I was refreshed, ready to face the screams with calmed nerves. Only there were no screams. My peanut was fast asleep.
Do I regret the 45 minutes I spent trying in vain to calm her? No. I want her to grow up knowing that I will always try to help her. But it is important that I learn now that sometimes I won't be able to help. As she grows up, and her problems become more complex, it will more often be the case that I won't be able to help her. I won't be able to make other kids want to be her friend; I won't be able to make her crush like her back; I won't be able (or willing) to buy her every toy and outfit that strikes her fancy; I won't be able to make her good at everything she wants or needs to do. I can always offer love and support, but there will be many, many things that she will have to overcome on her own. And sometimes, she will have to cry it out. So when she is 13, crying over a callous boy, a cruel "friend" or a mean mother who won't buy her the latest gadget that "everyone else has," I think I'll go have a long, hot shower. Maybe when I come out, she'll be sleeping.