– One day you won’t want me to carry you anymore, even when I want to, just because, so I’ll work harder at savoring the moments now when you’re saying (very firmly, in your incredibly cute toddler voice) UPPIE, UPPIE!
– One day you won’t want me to play with you anymore, so I’ll work harder at truly enjoying every moment you take my hand and say “C’mon Momma, c’mon, c’mon!!” and instruct me to sit on the living room floor to enjoy a feast of fake hotdogs, broccoli, corn and donuts.
– One day you’ll realize that my dancing skills are horribly lacking and what you now think of as so much fun ‘dancing’ (running, skipping, jumping, and occasionally all three combined) in the basement to the tunes coming from your kiddy piano is actually really just a horrific attempt at pretending I have rhythm, so I’ll work harder to ‘dance like no one is watching’ and savor every squeal of delight you expel from your little body.
– One day you won’t want me singing to you anymore, you’ll realize that I am 100% (possibly 200%) tone deaf, so I’ll continue to sing to you every morning I get you out of your crib and when I put you down to bed at night, and any opportunity I get to do so in between.
– One day you won’t make a big mess when eating with your hands, you’ll be too big to do that, so I’ll work harder at appreciating each and every dirty face, spilled food, squeezed juice box and wiping you down in the aftermath of meal and snack time.
– One day you won’t want to go shopping with us anymore, so I’ll work harder at enjoying every trip, even when you want to run away to play, unpack every shelf or have us open up every item we were planning (or not) on buying RIGHT NOW!!
– One day you won’t want to be ‘worn’ anymore despite how much I love having you that close to me, so I’ll work on toughening up, you’re a little heavier now and my back/shoulders hurt a little more quickly, but you, my daughter, are worth it!!
– One day you won’t want us to come with you to the park, you won’t think having your mom and/or momma slide and swing with you is ‘cool’, so I’ll work harder to enjoy every trip to the park, every time you yell out “Let’s go to PAAARRRKKK!” and every time you say, “Again, again, again!” even though it’s the 47th time we’ve gone down the slide today.
– One day you won’t want to follow in our footsteps, you won’t want to walk alongside us, you’ll be ready to burn your own path in this great big world, and I’ll encourage you to do just that, because you can be anything you want to be. For now I’ll work harder to be the role model you need in life, to be the best mom I can be, to love you unconditionally, and to show you that love, every single day. For my child – for you to know that you are loved, you are smart, you are important (to your mom’s and to the world) is all I can ask for – and I’ll work harder to enjoy every minute along the way!!
MIL says
Great pictures, WOW what wonderful words! I even got a little choked up.
Debbie says
Not always easy to remember these things……hoping this will help me remember!!!
Carla Bushey says
Beautiful post! they do grow up so fast. The photos are amazing. She is so adorable!
Julee says
Oh, Debbie! While these things maybe true, realizethat these moments you talk about are a foundation for more moments. There doesn’t need to be an ending to this…they are a chapter rather than an ending.
I have six children and while I miss their little voices and the moments they were small, there is no greater moment than…hearing your 25 year old tel you his memories of being small and realizing you are the hero in them all! It’s knowing that even when they grow older and discover they have amazing musical abilities they still want you to sing lead (knowing you’re tone deaf). I could go on…
What matters is that you are there–laughing at life, celebrating the moment and loving your child.
Never grow too old for silly…for making time.
We don’t know how the story ends, but we can write the fairytale.
Love you, my friend!
Dawn says
Awesome post and reminders, Debbie! Love the pics! 🙂
LaDonna Buis says
She is adorable.. Cherish the moments.
Terry says
Nice one Debbie, it is 8:33am and you have me with the waterworks going. You are right, cherish as much as you can now, later things change and sometimes not the way we want. I am fortunate enough that my soon to be 14 year old still likes to share, he still at the oddest moment and/or place will just tell me he loves me, we still read together at night before bedtime, he enjoys his morning chats with his dad over coffee and that serious discussion we have after watching a movie, best of all one of us must always stay for class at Martial Arts. These are the grown up moments Johan and I still get to share with Michael and they are very valuable. Enjoy all you have right now, in the moment and don’t work on it being the best. Just being there as a family is the best anyone can do. Love the picture and loved the story.