Tonight, our teenage daughter asked me to French braid her hair. While this seems like nothing, it’s the biggest deal to me.
As a mama who is grasping at the last moments of my baby girl’s childhood, wondering how on earth time passed so quickly, I almost cried. She hasn’t asked me to braid her hair in YEARS. I used to do it every night before bed, and most mornings. And then, she didn’t want a braid anymore. Just like that.
I miss my little girl, yet I am so extremely proud of the young lady she has become. I long for the moments she would crawl into my lap to read a book. Now she likes to read in her room…without me. I can’t help but feel a bit of sadness about the times gone by that I cherished so. Her sweet little voice, her wild and beautiful long hair, her fairy wings, her cat ears, the way she put everything she owned into a purse to go to the market. The beads, the stickers, the ribbons, the glitter, the dolls, and the tiniest little toy animals I ever saw. Our house was filled with them all. And now, they’re gone…or at least packed away. They’ve been replaced with makeup, shoe collections, notepads, dance attire, and an amazing sense of style.
As each day passes, I look excitedly on as she forges her own path and develops her own skills. I guide and nurture, many times despite the teenage eye rolls and sighs. She truly is amazing and wonderful. I am rendered speechless by her many talents on a regular basis.
I only wish my little princess could come back for just a little longer. But alas, time does not work that way. My gorgeous teenage daughter is more grown and capable than I ever expected her to be. My heart is bursting with pride, as my eyes sting just a little with joyful tears.
Maybe you, my sweet friends, are in the same boat. Or maybe you will be in a few short years. Or maybe you have a lot of time because yours are still very small. I want to encourage you today to find joy in the mundane, the tedious, the difficult things. Most truly will not last, and before you can even blink, you won’t even remember the last time you braided a wiggly little girl’s hair, or bandaged up those skinned knees. I think I really understand the meaning of the word “bittersweet” now. Soften your tense shoulders, take a breath, and listen to your mama heart. And as always, enjoy the journey you take with your children…it’s so worth every step!!
If you, too, need a little help to figure out how to French braid, this link helped me a lot!