These are my best days.
I sing my toddler to sleep at night. I’m inches from her blonde hair and smell her baby bath bubbles. She says Mama, sing sing…and I sing, even if I’m tired. Because I know it won’t last. She’s not always going to want me to stay.
Someday, she’ll want me to go.
I help my daughter with her sentences. She’s printing so much better now, getting ready for first grade soon. She says Mama, how do I spell…and I stop what I’m doing, even if I’m busy. Because someday she’ll take off across the paper with her own pencil. And she won’t always need me close.
Soon, she’ll write her own story.
These really are some good days. Even with the shouting from the backyard and the arguments over toys, there are still watercolor paintings and moon sand sculptures. There are still nighttime cuddles and a toddler patting her way down the hall at midnight to take up residence between her parents’ pillows.
And I know when I am old and all my girlfriends are old, and my husband needs me even more than he does now, we’ll talk about the jobs our grandchildren have and who they are marrying. I’ll miss the Kindergarten-lined paper and the lullabies. But I’ll have had the first row seat to the lives my daughters have lived.
Those will be my best days too.
You have such a great perspective! I’ve really been struggling with this lately. You are completely right, though, and I know I need to stop more and treasure these times! Thanks for the reminder!
Sarah, you remind me every day of how precious and fleeting these days are… how much I need to treasure them.
Oh, Sarah, I really, really love this post. It may be my favorite to date
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“…I’ll have had the first row seat to the lives my daughters have lived.”
I love that line.
Wow.
You totally put into words what always comes to my mind when they are all asleep and it’s quiet and still. But during the day when everything is crazy, it’s SO easy to forget.
Thanks for the reminder:)
beautiful words sarah. they really touched my heart today – i am typing through tears streaming down my face. your words are music to my soul on a day i needed to be reminded of all the little things i need to treasure, enjoy and embrace. thank you my friend!
I dont even have kids and you make me want to cry!
this makes me appreciate my own mother and father more. And they wouldn’t trade what they have today for anything – bountiful grandchildren and being able to repeat the past with the next generation. I think God’s blessings are never-ending, and just when we think life is good, it will get a whole lot better.
this is my favorite.
i need to paste this to my refrigerator (well maybe not paste, but place it right where my eyes can see it and know it).
thanks sarah
thanks for reminding me not to get ahead of where i’m at, and to take it all in… to appreciate the opportunities of late night consolations and early morning cereal spills.
they are the best days.
Nice as always, Sarah. Real nice. And once again, you’ve inspired me. Thanks.
My girls are 27 and 17, how well I remember those days. I have but 1 regret, that I didn’t enjoy my front row seat as much as I should have.
These are WONDERFUL days. Very true. I love the writing stage Richie is in…so fun. I’m catching up on blogs…so far behind – LOVE the picture of Hope in the macaroni!
*sniff, sniff*…i sure love your heart!
So great! I love your writing style. This is what I keep reminding myself when it is much easier to just turn on the tv or not make the effort. Thanks!
i remember reading this when you first posted it.
it struck some deep part in me that made it hard to find a comment…
yeah. it’s a definite “ONE” post.
These certainly are your best days, speaking from years past this point. It is wonderful that you recognize it for what it is. The days will truly fly by. Your insight is a blessing for them…and you.