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Dear Weary Moms, This One's For You!

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Women Living Well Blog: Dear Weary Moms, This One's For You!

Women Living Well Blog

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

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!

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14 Comments:

Blogger Valerie said...

So beautiful! *tears* My little girl is only 7 months and already there were things "checked off" that list of firsts. Thank you so much for sharing!

March 31, 2010 at 11:47 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Courtney, thank you so much for writing this post! I needed to hear this today! I wrote a whole blog after I read this about how it has helped to squash a selfish attitude I've been having as I have been wishing my babies would get bigger and easier to care for as quickly as possible. I was also struggling with whether or not I wanted to get a job, and put the kids in daycare. This helped open my eyes to my selfishness, and helped answer my question. Here's a link to my blog about this post and how it spoke to me. http://themommydiarybystacey.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-needed-this-today.html

April 1, 2010 at 2:43 AM  
Blogger livinginbetween said...

Sweet pictures of your daughter and sweet thoughts on rocking her.

I love that book by Karen Kingsbury and did a response to it once too. It really touches our hearts as mothers. Sometimes we're given the gift of knowing it's the last one, but most of the time they slip past unnoticed.

April 1, 2010 at 5:57 AM  
Blogger Clare said...

Happy birthday sweet Lexi!!!!

April 1, 2010 at 7:21 AM  
Blogger Lori said...

What a sweet post! It's fun looking at the pictures throughout. :) (And I love your disclaimer above about your family being first - good for you!)

April 1, 2010 at 7:41 AM  
Blogger M's Family Blogs said...

Oh, that was HARD to read. What a sweet yet sad poem.

My little girl turns 5 this year and I am so trying to slow down time, but the weeks just keep whizzing by. :(

I'm going to print that poem out, thanks for sharing.

Susan
p.s. Happy Birthday to your little girl!

April 1, 2010 at 8:13 AM  
Blogger Jennifer said...

Thanks for making me cry this morning! LOL!

But it's so true. You have to hold on to every single moment because with a single whisper, it's gone.

Happy Birthday to your big girl!!

April 1, 2010 at 8:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is sooo true:-)(!!! Our children are 11 and 9. During a recent visit to the dentist, Dr. Thomas informed me our son no longer has any baby teeth. In that moment, I experienced the mommy "happy,sad,and weeping" emotion all at once. Thank you for sharing the poem. Such beautiful pictures of your little "big" girl:-)!!


ProFundity

April 1, 2010 at 9:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes, I'm crying!

Jessica

April 1, 2010 at 9:12 AM  
Blogger Christina said...

This is just beautiful. Of course tears are flowing. Your daughter is so beautiful and i really enjoyed the pictures. My daughter is 17 months and it goes so fast. I have a camera in her face every day trying to capture it all. Thanks so much for this. Motherhood is just the most wonderful blessing.

April 1, 2010 at 10:07 AM  
Anonymous Julie said...

Yes, this made me cry and hug my 2 y/o! I have dealt with much guilt and selfishness over these past 3 yrs (pregnant, birth of baby, pregnant AGAIN, birth of 2nd baby 14 months after 1st). B/C baby #2 wasn't 'planned' I've really had a difficult time adjusting to mommyhood (something I'd always dreamed of.) I'm slowly learning to allow God to mold my expectations to what He wants for my family...not a perfectly clean house, not all laundry clean and folded on same day, etc! He is leading me to love and enjoy my babies on a daily basis! Thank you, Lord!!!!

April 1, 2010 at 10:38 AM  
Blogger taralynn819 said...

You have beautiful children, and I'm sure both inside and out!

Now can you tell me how I might have an April Fool's Day baby also?? SOMEone needs evacuating!!

April 1, 2010 at 11:28 AM  
Blogger Laryssa Herbert said...

Thanks for this reminder!

April 1, 2010 at 2:45 PM  
Anonymous Michelle S. said...

Your daughter is beautiful!! My daughter will be 5 in June-I can't believe it!! Love the poem!!
Thanks for all you do for Jesus!!!

April 1, 2010 at 5:22 PM  

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