I’m sitting on the deck, nose buried in my iPad when Lauren (7yo) slides open the door and exclaims, “I’m hungry!” Her voice sounding weak from the lack of substance in her belly, it had been almost a whole 30 minutes since dinner.
“Well what would you like?” I ask.
“Something I can’t have.” She declares in disgust.
“Something you can’t have?” I question.
“Yes. Do you want me to list things?” She asks as if she if I were a three year old.
“I’m listening…”
“Well (with a huge sigh and eyes looking up at the sky), candy, cookies or an ice-cream sandwich.” And then she drops her head and looks at me as if she is looking over the top of bifocals.
“You may have an ice-cream sandwich if you like.” I calmly reply, quite amused at the theatrics involved in her inquiry.
“Seriously?!” She squeals for joy. “You are the best mom ever!!”
Of course we all know that this honor will only last until she’s hungry again, but I’ll take it. I file it away and remember the moment, because that’s what we do as mothers. It’s those cute little here and nows that keep us from gathering all the chocolate, hiding in our bedrooms and watching reruns of the “New Adventures of Old Christine” all day while pretending not to hear the house crash down around us.
Not that I’ve ever done that.
But we hold on to the giggles and goofiness and things that cause our furrowed brow to relax for a moment. We hold them close to our heart because we know that these days won’t be forever. A time is coming when they will ask for the car keys and we won’t see them again until bedtime. Trust me, I’ve done this one or two or three times already, I know how this works. I’ve been on the other side and I’ve come back to tell you that motherhood matters. All the hard work, all the tears (sometimes even the kids cry) and all the time we spend with our kids really makes a differnce in their lives and ours.
So this summer, in all the hurry and worry, agendas, vacations and schedules, notice the little stuff. Be thankful. Smile more. Run through a sprinkler!
And then eat some chocolate. You’ve earned it.
Listen to this segment on the Star 105.7 tab: “Savor the Summer.” I do the ‘Real Moms of West Michigan’ segments on Star 105.7 with Tommy and Brook every Tuesday morning around 7:05 AM. If you are not in the West Michigan area you can listen on iHeart radio
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