Only once, only for a short time, only now are they little.
Play in the pool, ignore the laundry, clean up later, laugh out loud, and snuggle longer.
Ignore the desire to be the perfect mom and remember that you already are a great mom. Silence the commitments and the to-do lists and the mommy guilt, and enjoy these gifts while they're little.
Let them run around the living room, let them ask a bajillion questions, let them test you, let them hang on to your leg, let them tell you about their day, let them tell silly stories, let them know you're listening, let them teach you how to color outside the lines, and let them woo you with their little eyelashes...
Let them be little.
Let them play with your hair, let them help with the dishes, let them be your stress reliever, let them sit on your lap while you work, let them giggle in their room at bedtime, let them sing in the car, let them crawl in your bed when they're afraid, let them be rocked to sleep, let them fill your space with their things, and let them fill your heart with a childish joy...
Let them be little.
Let them call your name 100 times in 60 seconds, let them stand at the bathroom door, let them follow you everywhere, let them tell the person behind you in line your business, let them pick out a treat, let them wear 2 different socks, let them change your life, and let them take chances...
Let them be little.
Let God use them in your life, let them help reveal your faults, let them help Him mold you, let them teach you patience, let them remind you about whats really important, let them come first, let them know how important they are, and let them soak up your energy...
Let them be little.
Let them run wild at the park, let them do things kids do without apologizing for them, let them act goofy, let them be carefree, and let them be themselves.
Let the calling of motherhood push you to your limit because that's where the growing happens - that's where you lean on Him more and see yourself clearer (something I'm learning lately).
Teach them, train them, and guide them. But most importantly, let them be little :).
7 comments:
AMEN! Thanks for the reminder. I'm not a mama (yet :-) but I am a teacher to precious tweens in an inner city. Especially at their age when the world is pushing them to be/act/dress older then they are, it's great to remember that they are still little. I'm definitely going to print your list and keep it in my classroom to remind me next year!
LOVE THIS!!!! Thanks for writing and adding joy to our days...
SO so true, from a grandma's perspective the little ones grow up and soon those memories are a distant memory. ENJOY them as you have them each and every moment. The good and the bad are all memories to treasure. Keep them little.
You have a way of writing exactly what I'm thinking on any given day. Such beautiful words!
I agree with Cecilia -- beautiful words!
Amen. Thanks for the reminder to relax a bit. I needed it!
Wonderful post. I have continued to try this with my own little family. My mother in law showed a slide show of pictures of me and my husband as kids at our wedding playing to this song. (let them be little) Ever since I have really tried to do that. (I'm a bit lazy and nostalgic, myself, so it isn't to difficult to leave those dishes dirty...but the guilt is another matter)
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