Dear Weary Moms, This One's For You!

Today my sweet baby girl turns 5! She was born on April the first, so she's an April Fools Baby! She was very high energy as a baby and rarely wanted to sit long to be rocked once she could walk and so I remember the day we decided to move the rocking chair out of her room so we could put a brand new doll house in the rocking chair corner.

It was Christmas Eve. She was 3 1/2. I had to hold her tightly to get her to stay on my lap and then it happened - she fell asleep on me. And for the last time, I rocked her to sleep in her room in that old rocking chair. It was a bitter sweet moment as I looked at my little angel in my arms, I remember a tear trickling down my cheek as I knew it was our last night to rock together in that corner of her room.

Are you are a weary mom today? This poem by Karen Kinsbury is one of my favorites titled:Let Me Hold You Longer I think it will comfort you.

(Warning: If you have a child age 5 or older - get your tissues ready!)


Long ago you came to me,
a miracle of firsts,
First smiles and teeth and baby steps
a sunbeam on the burst.


But one day you will move away
and leave to me your past
And I will be left thinking of
a lifetime of your lasts…

The last time that I held a bottle
to your baby lips
The last time that I lifted you
and held you on my hip.
The last night when you woke up crying,
needing to be walked,
When last you crawled up with your blanket
wanting to be rocked.

The last time when you ran to me,
still small enough to hold.
The last time that you said you’d marry
me when you grew old.


Precious, simple moments and
bright flashes from your past-
Would I have held on longer if
I’d known they were your last?


Our last adventure to the park,
your final midday nap,
The last time when you wore your favorite
faded baseball cap.
Your last few hours of kindergarten,
those last few days of first grade,
Your last at bat in Little League,
last colored picture made.


I never said good-bye to all
your yesterdays long passed.
So what about tomorrow-
will I recognize your lasts?


The last time that you catch a frog
in that old backyard pond.
The last time that you run barefoot
across our fresh-cut lawn.

Silly, scattered images
will represent your past.
I keep on taking pictures,
never quite sure of your lasts…


The last time that I comb your hair
or stop a pillow fight.
The last time that I pray with you
and tuck you in at night.


The last time when we cuddle
with a book, just me and you
The last time you jump in our bed
and sleep between us two.
The last piano lesson,
last vacation to the lake.
Your last few weeks of middle school,
last soccer goal you make.


I look ahead and dream of days
that haven’t come to pass.
But as I do, I sometimes miss
today’s sweet, precious lasts…


The last time that I help you with
a math or spelling test.
The last time when I shout that yes,
your room is still a mess.


The last time that you need me for
a ride from here to there.
The last time that you spend the night
with your old tattered bear.


My life keeps moving faster,
stealing precious days that pass,
I want to hold on longer-
want to recognize your lasts…


The last time that you need my help
with details of a dance.
The last time that you ask me for
advice about romance.


The last time that you talk to me
about your hopes and dreams.
The last time that you wear a jersey
for your high school team.


I’ve watched you grow and barely noticed
seasons as they pass.
If I could freeze the hands of time,
I’d hold on to your lasts.


For come some bright fall morning,
you’ll be going far away.
College life will beckon
in a brilliant sort of way.


One last hug, one last good-bye,
one quick and hurried kiss.
One last time to understand
just how much you’ll be missed.


I’ll watch you leave and think how fast
our time together passed.
Let me hold on longer,
God,to every precious last.

In the midst of fevers, spit up, diapers and dishes we moms can grow weary. We can forget all the firsts and LASTS that our children are progressing through as we wish for the next season - one we dream to be easier.

Today I hold my Alexis a little closer. So proud that she's such a sweet 5 year old and yet sad that the preschool days are forever gone. 3 months ago in our old house, she loved Barney and the Mickey Mouse Club. But when we moved to our new home, she grew up overnight and informed me those shows were for babies. I now realize that another last had just passed us by. The door of the preschool chapter of our lives just slammed shut in my face. Gone forever!

Weary moms enjoy your children today! Psalm 127:3 "Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him."NLT


Walk with the King!

Ps. Lexi's tutu is from a fellow blogger who I have followed since the very beginning of blogging in 2008 at Shabby Tiara . Her blog is filled with beautiful things! Stop by and enjoy!