{"id":6559,"date":"2015-09-16T05:02:41","date_gmt":"2015-09-16T11:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/?p=6559"},"modified":"2018-05-31T06:24:57","modified_gmt":"2018-05-31T12:24:57","slug":"one-thing-ill-never-stop-doing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/2015\/09\/16\/one-thing-ill-never-stop-doing\/","title":{"rendered":"One Thing I\u2019ll Never Stop Doing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

My husband records The Jimmy Fallon Show<\/em> and if we like the guest or musical performer we\u2019ll watch it after the kids go to bed. Sometimes I\u2019ll show one of Jimmy\u2019s hilarious lip sync videos to my daughters, and we'll laugh \u2018til our sides hurt. What I never expected was to see my younger daughter watching the show without me. But there she was, curled up on my side of the bed wrapped in my favorite lavender blanket.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you were getting ready for bed,\u201d I said stifling a chuckle at the sight of her looking like such a mini Rachel.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m watching Jimmy Fallon,\u201d she said matter-of-factly, as if this was common behavior for a nine-year-old child.<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t help but shake my head and smile. \u201cWatching Jimmy Fallon \u2026 in my bed \u2026 with my blanket!\u201d<\/p>\n

My daughter giggled. \u201cI wanted to see Justin Bieber perform his new song.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now<\/em> it made sense. \u201cWell, we can watch it together tomorrow. C\u2019mon, it\u2019s time for bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

My freckle-faced girl with curls in disarray crawled out of my bed, her legs looking unusually long. She obediently clicked off the antics of Jimmy Fallon and made an announcement\u2014almost as if she\u2019d been reading my mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m growing up!\u201d<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t know whether to laugh or to cry.<\/p>\n

Just in the last few weeks, her grown-ness has been very apparent. The way she neatly organizes her excessive collection of Bath & Body Works products on her desk \u2026 the way she puts her completed homework back into her folder each day \u2026 the way she strums her guitar and sings with more confidence than ever before \u2026 the way she reads thick chapter books and rarely needs help with the words. And the obvious one\u2014the way she comes up to my chin when she hugs me.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"never<\/p>\n

The only time she looks like a baby anymore is when she\u2019s asleep. Because the school bus comes so early, I have the privilege of going into her room to wake her up. I call this duty a privilege because in the morning light, I can see a glimmer of the baby she once was.<\/p>\n

One morning as I leaned down to kiss her gently on the forehead, I thought to myself, I\u2019ll never get tired of kissing this face. Never.<\/em><\/p>\n

This feeling of absolute certainty gave me an unexpected sense of calm.<\/p>\n

Yes, she may be growing up, but my love for her will never change. I am certain of that.<\/p>\n

As the day went on, I noticed other actions\u2014performed in the name of love\u2014that would never change \u2026 no matter how grown she is \u2026 no matter how much we disagree \u2026 no matter what unfortunate circumstances might come our way \u2026<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never stop watching as she walks away from me.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never stop imagining what is to become of her.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never tire of that open mouth laugh that sounds like pure joy.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never tire of watching her love animals or sing Amazing Grace<\/em>.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never stop noticing new freckles that pop up on her nose.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never stop worrying when she is on a field trip or traveling without me.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never stop wanting to know what\u2019s going on in that observant mind of hers.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never stop wanting to protect her from disappointment, heartbreak, embarrassment, or harm.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never stop kissing her forehead.<\/p>\n

In a world that moves at lightning speed
\nIn a world where value is placed on the latest and greatest version
\nIn a world where statuses, trends, and information are updated by the minute
\nIn a world with little permanence, I am finding great comfort in the certainty of my love for this child.<\/p>\n

\"never<\/p>\n

I mourned the day when she stopped playing with her beloved Polly Pockets. She doesn\u2019t like dressy dresses anymore. The girl who once thought toothpaste was too spicy tries sushi and hot barbeque sauce. The child who was afraid to dive off the blocks, jumps in with a little too much fearlessness now. She is not scared of thunderstorms anymore and walks downstairs in the dark when she is thirsty.<\/p>\n

In a face that seems to elongate with each passing day
\nIn a mind that expands every day with new ideas, hopes, and dreams
\nIn a body that grows stronger and longer each time she crawls out of bed, I am finding great comfort in the stability of my love for this child.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t predict much of anything, but I can predict that I will never tire of kissing her forehead as she sleeps. My love for this child will endure harsh elements, discord, distance, and time. This I know for sure.<\/p>\n

Perhaps it is one of the few things on earth that is eternal.<\/p>\n

My love for her is fixed. And it fixes me.<\/p>\n

The other day, we were hastily trying to get her lunch packed before school and she said, \u201cSometimes the people that love us the most act the most grouchy towards us.\u201d I stopped scurrying around and looked at her and smiled. \u201cGrandma told me that,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

I knew. I\u2019d overheard my mom on her recent visit after my second kidney surgery<\/a>. I was exhausted, achy, and not being very nice to the people I love. I heard my mom explaining my unpleasant behavior to my daughter.<\/p>\n

My mother\u2019s explanation had stuck with her.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Mama,\u201d my child continued, \u201cNo matter how grouchy you are, I\u2019d never want to be anyone else\u2019s child.\u201d<\/p>\n

Never<\/em> \u2013 there it was again. Such comfort in that word when it\u2019s associated with love. Such comfort in love\u2019s stability when so much is out of our control.<\/p>\n

\"Never<\/p>\n

My friends, let\u2019s sit with that notion for a moment. I think there\u2019s something very hopeful here for us. If you are facing uncertain times \u2026 if you are standing on shaky ground \u2026 if your world is crumbling down around you \u2026 if your beloved people are growing up or away too quickly for your liking, try this:<\/p>\n

Try watching them walk away. They might even turn back to wave.<\/p>\n

Try watching them out there on the ball field \u2026 the stage \u2026 the lawn mower \u2026 the driver\u2019s seat of your car. They might even look up and smile when they see you watching.<\/p>\n

Try watching them eat their favorite cereal. Even drippy milk looks beautiful when running down the chin of that precious face.<\/p>\n

Try watching them find you in a crowd. Watch how their chest relaxes when you make eye contact.<\/p>\n

Try watching them sleep. Look at the peace settled upon those perfect eyebrows and flawless lips.<\/p>\n

Although nothing much is predictable in this life, I am willing to bet you\u2019ll never tire of these sights. Take comfort in the fact there is something that will never change: fierce love for that face you know by heart.<\/p>\n

They might be growing up
\nThe world might be crumbling down
\nBut you are grounded in love.<\/p>\n

You can be certain of that.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

******************************************************<\/p>\n

For simple strategies and daily intentions that enable you to choose love, connection, acceptance, and peace over criticism, chaos, and negativity, please consider my latest bestseller\u00a0ONLY LOVE TODAY<\/a>. This daily inspiration book is one you can open to any page in the book and you will to find a 2-minute reset and perspective shift.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>For wearable reminders inscribed with healing mantras from my writings, click here<\/a>. Phrases include: ONLY LOVE TODAY<\/a>, I CHOOSE LOVE<\/a>, SEE FLOWERS NOT WEEDS<\/a>, COME AS YOU ARE<\/a>, and TODAY MATTERS MORE THAN YESTERDAY<\/a>. The reminder bands come in metal, leather, and silicone. There are also hand-lettered prints<\/a> to post\u00a0throughout your home or place of work.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Thank you, dear ones, for walking beside me on this life-changing jourey to let go of distraction and perfection to grasp what matters most. Together, there is hope.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My husband records The Jimmy Fallon Show and if we like the guest or musical performer we\u2019ll watch it after the kids go to bed. Sometimes I\u2019ll show one of Jimmy\u2019s hilarious lip sync videos to my daughters, and we’ll laugh \u2018til our sides hurt. What I never expected was to see my younger daughter […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6754,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,1747,1760,79,1741,22],"tags":[1529,573,837,348,91,1160,1530,1528],"gutentor_comment":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/DSC_0227-e1454709672186.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1fUJF-1HN","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6559"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6559"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6559\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}