June 8, 2010

when I grow up...

when I grow up...


I can stir the dough batter faster {so it doesn't spill you know}
I can sleep in your bed Mommy
I can run with a jogger stroller
I can be a mommy too
I can get hot things out of the oven too
I can write all my numbers {perfectly}
I can get in the big pool by myself
I can drive
I can get married
I can crack the eggs




my little 4-year-old for these past two months or so has been obsessed with doing more and saying "when I grow up, I can..." 
some are short-term goals she has with her numbers
and some are long-term like being a mommy...


I am forgetting every last phrase she says with "when I grow up I can..."
because it is with a lot she says that to
but some of the things are so simple and it makes you appreciate every little thing you can do by yourself or because you are a bit older...


but I have started to laugh and smile about it...because I love to hear the things she hopes for or wants to do...




I don't tell her that I don't want her to grow up...
{even though that's what I'm thinking}
I don't tell her to be patient
{because she is not like her mama}
I don't tell her she has plenty of time ahead of her
because she doesn't quite get that anyway
and that's not what she wants or needs to hear...

I don't tell her how much life is easier as a youngin' like her
because I want her to live in the moment



I do tell her..."someday it will happen"
"someday you will"
I do tell her "absolutely"...
and sometimes I don't say a word at all I just smile and hug her
because I don't want to take away from anything that she is telling me


she is a quiet girl that studies life
and when she talks and opens up about what she likes or hopes for...
I'm always ready to listen


I remember when i was little and all I could hope for was to grow older so I could do this or I could do that...
but oh the days of really no "real" worries are long gone
and that's something the girls will learn and experience all on their own
and they will remember someday when they said
"when I grow up I can"
and it will make them smile because they will know...
if only those days were still here


but when they remember all the times they said "when I grow up I can"
they will appreciate the present time and where they are in life


over the weekend as Bobby got back in town
we had a movie night and the girls wanted some of Bobby's water
and of course they just walked over and took a drink
and set it back down on the table
not on the coaster which made Bobby in a bit of a huff

I just looked at him and smiled and said let it go
it's really not a big deal because someday if we see water rings on that table
I will remember exactly this time in our life
and I said "honey...all this time with the girls you learn to pick your battles"
"and this is not one..."

because we can simply reach over and put it back on the coaster and still see them walk back to where they are watching their movie smiling big
and not worrying about a coaster


one of the things Bobby is a nut about is using a coaster
and I never use a coaster myself {at my home} and it drives him crazy
{I'll use one at yours if I am there...no worries...}
but it is so funny as he is known as the extreme laid back one
that I'm telling him to relax a bit and let this one go
makes me snicker and laugh


I'm slowly getting caught up reading your blogs...
I've missed so much but have been enjoying so much here
xo

17 comments:

Urban Farmgirl said...

Those girlies are just the cutest every...they really belong on the pages of a magazine somewhere! Can you even imagine how beautiful ~ inside and out ~ they are going to be in 10 years! I sure hope we are still blogging then! ;o)

Lovely post...and the coaster thing cracks me up ~ sounds the same in our house!

~mary~

*The Beautiful Life* said...

Martha, this is a post that every mother (and father) should read. How have hit the nail on the head. Looking at all these pictures of those beautiful girls --one after the other -- makes me SO miss that age with my Olivia. But your words come back to me as a reminder that all that you say is so true. My daughter is now almost 20 and even just about 1 hour ago as I was rubbing her back while she shared coffee, we were thinking back to her toddler and early school years and laughing about things. And this is no lie.... I turned and looked at her and said these very words:

"You mark my words.... one day, maybe 20 or 30 years from now, you are going to remember this morning fondly. Not because anything extraordinary is happening right now, but because you won't be able to get THIS very moment back and you'll remember it as one of your most carefree times in life. Not that your life won't be carefree in 20 or 30 years, but it will be a "different" carefree. And we won't be sitting here in our robes with no real weight-of-the-world things going on in our lives. You with no bills, and me with my girl here next to me. THIS is a great time, m'dear -- and you will remember it fondly -- and wish to go back to it. And so will I. Love ya, chica."

And that was our moment in time this morning before she headed off to work and school until late tonight....

And even when they are older, as she is, you still find yourself stopping and saying to your hubby "Don't sweat it. So what if we stay up way later than we wish to so we can wait for her to get home safely. We'll miss that one day. So what if she never checks her tire pressure and you have to do it on the spur of the moment cuz she's just informed you her tires look "a little flat"." We WILL miss this -- and we already miss that she's not around the dinner table nearly as much anymore because of all her activities and classes.

There isn't ONE water ring on a table, or ONE mess on the floor, or ANYTHING that is worth a big deal at their age -- you'll look back on much of what frustrates you now, and wish for it again in spades. It's a crazy way life deals with us, but the very thing we wish would hurry up and go away is the very thing we're gonna miss late at night when the house is just too quiet and meals for just two hardly seem worth the effort. :)

Okay -- I'm done -- sorry for this HUGE comment!! :)

And did I mention I loved this post and it struck a chord? ;)

XOXO

Ruth

Anonymous said...

That was so sweet! I remember when Macy would say sweet things like that that she wanted to do "when she grew up".....now they mostly consist of when I am this big {I am getting pink streaks in my hair} or {I am getting a cell phone}....not the cute things I am used to hearing. {tear} Hope your having a great week! xoxo

Jeanne Oliver said...

This is the most beautiful post I have read in a long time....the photos....your sweet girls....and your heart as a mother!!!!

Farmgirl Paints said...

Tugs on my heartstrings. You know this hits me too. Your daughters are just precious.

Anonymous said...

aren't they just precious! what a couple of cuties! My girls say stuff like how old do I have to be to kiss now??? It scares me a little... At least your girls just want to pull stuff out of the oven. :)

Kristin said...

martha~
i can't tell you how much i needed reminding that these little precious moments won't last too much longer and to enjoy...
you little ones are absolutely adorable and your photos are stunning! what a magical childhood they will have to remember

Shannan Martin said...

We have that same "pick your battles" discussion frequently around here. Kids are not tiny adults...they will never do everything exactly right. (Heck, who does???) What a beautiful post! I loved reading every word.

ps- Ruby has that little white dress - she's wearing it as a flower girl dress for an outdoor wedding next week. A $13 flower girl dress? SWEET!

Shannon said...

Soooo cute, I love your beautiful pictures of the girls! Kayla says "when I grow up..." all the time too, it's so sweet to hear.

koralee said...

What an adorable post..your sweetpeas are like two peas in a pod...so so adorable. Enjoy these sweet times my friend. xoxoxoo

Nancy said...

Beautiful pictures and your story is so sweet and so true. It is going so fast. The growing up thing... I just want to slow down a bit and not be a freak about certain things. Happy day to you.

Laurie said...

Darling, darling dresses and beautiful subjects! As I write this comment my children are screaming in the other room. I'm turning up your music and pretending I don't hear them. :)

Seizing My Day said...

wise words! Oh the things you can not prepare your heart for! =) Being a mommy is the best job in the whole world! =)

Victoria Hayden said...

This is so precious! Your girls are adorable! I see my children growing up so fast...my only girl is turning 15 and only has 3yrs of high school left...the youngest turns 6 and starts kindergarten...it makes me proud of them, but sad at the same time. I loved this post and the sweet thoughts. Thanks for sharing.

Hugs,
Victoria

Mrs. Dunbar said...

"When I grow up" I think was my favorite saying as a child. Now I'm all grown up and have to remember that these are the things I always wanted. Although nobocy told me you couldn't just stop changing diapers because you were tired of doing it. Ha.

Love your littles quotes, they are precious, and her heart is so pure.

patty said...

i just happened upon your post by clicking here and clicking there and here i am. finding this post just makes me smile. i love how you wrote it, and these photos are precious and timeless. so, so sweet. loved it.
{couldn't leave my blogsite: www.findingserendipity.com}

Sixty-Fifth Avenue said...

You really take the most beautiful pictures of your girls! Loved reading this post...I can really relate.