It’s hard to believe my son will turn ten years old this fall and my daughter will be six. Whoa! Have I really been a mom for that long? Where did the time go?
You would think that with ten years of experience, I could offer profound wisdom on this mothering thing. But the truth is, I’m still learning. Every day is a new adventure in the journey. And just as soon as I think I’ve got it all figured out, I find out I really don’t.
I do know this: I am beyond thankful for my two beautiful children. I am thankful they are both healthy. I am thankful for the many ways they brighten my day. I am thankful for how they have given my life new meaning.
My daughter, who is six, can bring me joy in the smallest things. Her smile lights up any dreary day and causes me to pause as I remember my own dad singing to me as a little girl, “you are my sunshine, my only sunshine…” She is a nonstop bundle of energy, always in motion, never stopping. Happy, glimmering, and sparkling, she is my sunshine.
My son, fast approaching ten, shows me how to slow down and savor life. He stops and takes notice of nature’s wonders, begging me to see the spectacular iris blooming in our yard or calling me to come and look at the four-leaf clover he just found. He is attentive to detail, sensitive, compassionate, and kind.
Some days I long for those sweet moments when I held their tiny little bodies as they slept, unaware of the world around them. Those are the days I realize just how fleeting life is, and I want to hold on and make time stand still.
I may not be the perfect mom. I may lose my patience. I may get caught up in my own busyness and not be still enough, or stop long enough to really notice the small grown-ups they are slowly becoming. With each passing day, it is one step closer to the moment that they will be ready to fly away on their own.
I know I’m not the perfect mom. I don’t strive to be. I only strive to love my children unconditionally. And I hope that when they are fully grown, they can look back and say just one thing – that they always knew how much I loved them.
If you’re still looking for the perfect Mother’s Day dessert, check out yesterday’s post:
Devil’s Food Cake with Fluffy Frosting
Happy Mother’s Day!
Carol
