Forever, For Keeps

Summering can be hard, ya’ll.

We’ve officially reached the point where it’s too hot to be outside for a big part of the day, which makes our weekends tough. The sunshine calls to my three year old but the heat is too intense for the baby, so we go outside in spurts…which isn’t really enough to quench my daughter’s desire to roam and run and play.

So we occasionally end up with one of “those” days.

You know those days.

Those days where patience is thin and my tongue is sharper than I’d like. Where there are too many chores and not enough time and my priorities get out of whack.

We had that day recently.

And by 2 p.m., the my three year old and I desperately needed a re-set. We needed something to pull us out of frustration, and tears, and short tempers.

Movie time in Momma’s bed seemed to be the perfect solution.

We settled in, and my wiggly, cuddly big girl threw an arm around my neck and pulled me close to her round little face.

“Momma? I’m going to keep you forever.”

How is it that she knows exactly what my heart needs exactly when it needs it? On a day that my parenting was sub par at best, there she was, choosing me. Keeping me.

I brushed away her curls to kiss her sweet forehead and whispered that I was going to keep her forever, too.

And I mean it. I’m going to keep THIS her, forever. Her pure spirit and silly ways at this age are etched into my heart.

The way her pants are coated in sidewalk chalk at the end of an evening drawing elaborate pictures on the driveway, I’m keeping forever.

The way her face scrunches when she’s trying to figure something puzzling out, I’m keeping forever.

The tender hugs and kisses she gives to her brother, I’m keeping forever.

Her deep belly laugh, her high pitched giggles, and her silly fake laugh, I’m keeping forever.

Sweaty curls and rosy cheeks after a morning at the park, I’m keeping forever.

The countless questions about countless things, I’m keeping forever.

Her emphatic “thumbs up” when she’s trying to make a “good deal” with you (usually bartering for a later bedtime), I’m keeping forever.

The way she turns anything (dirt, pool toys, beach toys, anything!) into pretend food and loves to cook, I’m keeping forever.

I’ve told my husband that there are so many things right now that our kids won’t remember. But what a treasure it is to hold those memories just for us. There’s no one that knows her better right now, and we’ll hold these memories of our precious preschooler forever.

The fact that she wants to keep me, too? That’s just icing on the cake.

Posted by Kelly & filed under Motherhood, The Girl. This post has one comment.