Last night as I was getting Grace ready for bed she spoke words that first made my jaw drop and second made my heart sink; "My no baby!" My 21 month old is already telling me that she is no longer my baby and is now a "biii gill" (big girl) How is this happening? Wasn't it just last week that we were cooing over her first words? Or wasn't it last month we were hoping and praying that I would stay pregnant long enough to develop those tiny lungs? How is she now telling me that she's not a baby!
Everyone tells you that you need to 'cherish every moment' and 'they grow up so fast.' If only I could have truly understood what that meant before the first 21 months have already flown by! But you can't slow time, and you definitely can't go back. So I have learned to actively and intentionally 'cherish every moment.' Here's a few ways that I make sure that even as time is flying by, Grace and I are making memories and not regrets.
- SHE is more important than my iPhone. Always. Calls, texts, emails, facebook - whatever. It all comes after her. I once read a friend say that if you tell your child to wait while you update your facebook - you are telling you child they are less important than facebook.
- We play. We play at home, we play at the park, we even play at the grocery store. Especially at the toddler age ANY activity can become a game - and let me tell you things are far less stressful when you are laughing at each other.
- We learn. Same as with play - we learn everywhere. My child is a sponge and I am her greatest teacher. She is also my greatest imitator - so if I take the time to show and explain things to her I am not only teaching her the ways of the world, but I am teaching her that I value her growth and I choose to invest in her.
- We worship, dance, and read. We use bible stories and songs to talk about what we do during our day and how we can do it in a way to please God.
- I pray. I pray constantly for my daughter. I pray with her and for her. It absolutely melts my heart to hear her sweet little voice end our prayers with "Ahmeen"
Don't get me wrong, we have our fights, our standoffs, temper tantrums and bad days. But each day I try to choose joy - to make choices during the day that reflect how grateful I am for the gift of raising an amazing child who will always be 'my baby.'
What a beautiful ode from, in my old eyes, one child - to her child. A child who amazed me in the same ways, whom I cherished above all others, enough to see my destructive ways and change them only to not hurt her in any way, a child so vibrant and smart beyond her age, who was curious and creative and who loved to laugh and play and sing and read - it seems like yesterday! And to re-live those wonderful years again with Grace is the icing on my "life" cake. Thank you for sharing and caring the way you do, and the greatest gift you can give someone is LOVE, and I am twice blessed by you. With eternal LOVE for you both and especially for your journey with Grace, it gets deeper and better than you could ever imagine - I won't make it for the whole trip - but I hope to be looking for a dress to wear to Grace's graduation in about 18 yr.! -PEACE- gramma
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