I Hear You, I See You

I hear you. I see you. The way that you look at my children with tearful eyes as you reflect on your own experience. I hear you and believe me, I understand how, in the blink of an eye, it will be me. I hear your voice when I get annoyed with my kids running around. Your words resonate with me as the bouncing ball breaks yet another lamp.

Your bittersweet remarks play over and over in my head when I get annoyed, when I get mad at my kids. As I tell them to rush out the door each morning, I sometimes pause and think of you, knowing this chaotic time will pass. I think of how quiet my house will be; will I miss the noise?

Thank you for sharing your parenting experience. Through the years, I’ve read your posts and watched your children grow. Through your social media posts, I listened to your advice and recommendations, and I thank you for your replies to the endless questions I had on parenting. I watched your children play youth sports, take dance lessons, star in musicals, and go to dances. I will feel your sadness as they wear their cap and gown.

Through the years, your children became role models to mine, and you became a role model to me, as I began to imagine what is possible for my children.

Because of you…

Because of you, I signed my kids up for music lessons.

Because of you, I coach my kids in youth sports.

Because of you, I have taken spontaneous trips to the zoo.

Because of you, I went on a date night with my spouse.

Because of you, I gave myself grace.

Because of you, I stopped apologizing.

Because of you, I went for a walk.

Because of you, I sent my kids to overnight camp.

Because of you, I reached out to friends that I haven’t seen in years.

Because of you, I joined a mom club and made new friends.

Because of you, I will cherish motherhood and all it has to offer.

Because of you, I will live in the moment and enjoy this season.

Because of you, I will remind myself daily how the days are long, but the years are short.

Parenting is the most amazing experience of our lives. It comes with struggles, noise, and commotion, but the joy is overwhelming. I thank you for the constant reminder to stop and enjoy my children because their childhood will be gone in the blink of an eye.

Sincerely,

Your Biggest Fan