Dear Kids,
Last night, I could hear your laughter over the humming of the fan. You were looking at an old sketchbook from when you were younger and reading each other the captions to your illustrations.
I was downstairs doing the dishes and took a pause and felt like everything in our house was exactly what it was supposed to be.
I know I’d have more moments like this if I just let things be
If I’d stop looking at the to-do list and noticing all that needed to be done.
I look at the three of you, and I’m so thankful you don’t have my anxious, uptight ways. I’m glad you feel confident enough to tell me to slow down and ask me if I really need to try to do 10 things before we are piling in the car to go get an ice cream.
I admire your laidback-ness, and I’m thankful when you do recognize I need help and you kick into gear and take out the trash or run the vacuum.
Now that you're all in the middle of your teenage years, I spend a lot of time telling you about the things you are doing wrong: the dishes in your room, the towel on the floor, the leaving the light on.
I don’t tell you enough how much I love your sense of humor or how good you smell. You don’t know about the tingle I get in my belly when I hear you walk down the stairs in the morning, and I know I am going to see you soon.
You don’t know I know which one of you is walking into the room because I’ve memorized the thumping of your footsteps.
You have no idea how much it means when you ask to do something with me, or reluctantly agree to help me with a project.
I so appreciate how much you brighten a rough day
You all always feel my pain when I’m not in a good mood, and you aren’t afraid to ask me what’s wrong and try to cheer me up. I love that about all of you.
You notice when I get new throw pillows for the living room. You say “thank you” for dinner. You are so flexible if plans change, or we don’t have hotdogs to grill for dinner after all, even though I told you we did.
You’ve all made the best out of the pandemic and are more than happy to go for a walk outside, hang in your rooms, and hit the drive-thrus once in a while.
You have shown me — once again — what is truly important in life, and that you will all be fine if plans change and I say no to you.
I need to tell you these things more
I need you to know how much you mean to me and how much meaning you gave to my life.
I will know no other love like I have for the three of you. I am the lucky one. I am the one who has three beautiful souls to share my years with. I am the one who has gotten to see you grow and change and mature.
Since words can never describe how truly fortunate I feel (even when I’m at my wits end and you are all driving me bonkers), I will just tell you this: You are the three greatest loves of my life, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about how lucky I am to be able to be a part of your life.
Love,
Mom
