Let Them Be Little

Over the years as I've watched my little ones grow-up, I've often looked at them and wondered to myself, "Will they ever stop doing that", or "Will they ever grow-up?". Some of their little quirks drive me bonkers at times and I just can't wait for them to be more independent.

But more often than that, I'll look at them and wonder what I'll do when someday they're all gone and out of our house and I no longer have all the noise, the chaos, the messes, the hugs, the drawings on the fridge, the wet bathroom floors, the dishes, the wonderful clean head smells after a bath, the guitar playing notes that just won't come off right, the snuggles at night, the sleepless nights, the worries that someone's gonna take off with one of them when I've finally decided to let them have 20 minutes of independence and let them ride down the street alone, the laughter when someone's told a really weird joke, the reminders to feed the dog (again), the endless laundry, the fun of picking out little clothes, the joy of watching them decorate the Christmas tree, the pride of hearing yet again how wonderful my children are from their teachers, the help whenever I go near the kitchen to make anything, the footprints across the kitchen floor after it's rained, the smell of sunscreen and chlorine on a summer day, the phone calls to recall something funny or sweet one of them did, the basketball games when hardly a ball hits the rim, the struggles of drying hair on a little one who hates it, the screaming when Daddy or Mommy leaves the house, the securing of everyone in their carseats and booster seats, the sippy cups under the back seat of the car with sour milk in them, the hard, cold french fries in every nook and cranny of the car, the relaying of their days in the van after school in the afternoon, the night time prayers, the bedtime books, the feeling that I'm important to someone small, and the constant forgiveness when I've screwed up with these most precious gifts from God.

They are gonna grow-up. There are times I look at them and wish they'd be small forever. But I know if they were, that I'd miss out on so much more that they have yet to offer myself, the world, and God's kingdom. So, right now, I have to live in the present and not worry about those days ahead when they'll be gone from our home. I have to let them be little while they are little and not push them to grow-up like so many people seem to do in today's world. For us that means letting them play instead of having their entire world structured with extra curricular stuff. It means sitting down to dinner together several nights a week and listening to their minds, hearts, and world. It means letting them get into a hot bath with all their toys even when it seems they are big enough for a much quicker shower. It means that during the summer they sleep in and stay up late. It means that I as their momma, I have to make a point to remember to let them stay little as long as I can, 'cause they're gonna want to "be big" soon enough on their own.

Listen to this song. You'll probably cry, if you're not already thinking of your own children. I know I am. I've loved my children at every stage and always said that I can't imagine the next stage, and then it comes and I say the same thing all over again. I need to let them grow at their pace and love them thru it all. I don't want to look back and think "I missed it, where'd it all go, their gone and it's too late." What a struggle for us moms to balance being organized and having a clean home with the needs of our children. Wow!! God help me to do right by my growing children!!