What I’m Really Saying
Dear children—
When I put down my book to tuck you in for the seventh time, I’m really saying:
I love you.
When you want the last bag of sour cream and onion chips, the ones that are my favorite, and I say “they are all yours,” I’m really saying:
I love you.
When you wake up early, and I desperately want that last few minutes of writing time, but I say, “just let me finish this thought, and then I’ll come make your breakfast,” I’m really saying:
I love you.
When you are sick, and I don’t want to catch whatever you have (what mom has time to be sick?), but I open my arms so you and all your germs can snuggle with me, I’m really saying:
I love you.
When there is a rare free minute during the day, and I pick up my book, hoping to squeeze in just a few minutes of reading, but put it back down again because you want to tell me all about the Super Mario Flying Squirrel game you are going to make when you are a little bit older, I’m really saying:
I love you.
When I lose my temper in the moment, and come find you a few minutes later to apologize, what I’m really saying is:
I love you.
When it would be easier to do it myself—in the kitchen, carrying the laundry basket up the stairs, sweeping the floor, watering the plants, shutting the garage—but you are so eager to help, and I say yes, what I’m really saying is:
I love you.
When you ask me to tuck in your stuffed animal or your Lego man and also, maybe fix him some lunch, when I play along, what I’m really saying is:
I love you.
When I spend time cutting your sandwich into themed shapes, making you festive snack platters or searching Pinterest for fun holiday themed activities to do together, I’m not trying to be a Pinterest-perfect mom. I’m trying to make memories, things you’ll look back on with a smile. I’m trying to say:
I love you.
When I really want a clean house, but you are so proud of your blanket fort, and I say yes to it staying up longer than I’d like, I’m really saying:
I love you.
When I correct something like bad manners, telling a lie, or hitting your brothers, when I make rules and set limits, what I’m really saying is:
I love you.
When you roll your eyes because I take a million pictures, because I’m desperate to capture this moment in time, what I’m really saying is:
I love you.
Love,
Mom
This post is part of a blog hop with Exhale—an online community of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series "Love Looks Like".
