Last week Doug and I were able to get away for a few days to Gatlinburg, TN for a belated 10 year anniversary. We were only gone for three nights, but that is the longest period of time that we’ve ever left the kids, and we have never left Luke before this. So, needless to say, I was calling every day to check-in on the kids, even though I knew they were in good hands with my parents. During one of the calls, I spoke with my oldest, Emie, for a few minutes. She will be seven years old this summer and I often put high expectations on her because she is the oldest and because in many ways she seems very mature. However, during our phone conversation, I was amazed at how young she sounded. Her voice sounded like that of a little girl. Probably because she is! In many ways it was a wake-up call for me that she still is very young and that I should not only treat her accordingly, but really enjoy her childhood. I know a day will come too soon when I am talking to a young woman who is no longer living at home!
The following day of our vacation Doug and I happened upon a Christian book store that was selling every book for five dollars. Of course, neither of us could pass up this amazing sale! We each bought a few books, including one on motherhood for me called Mom…and Loving It! Ironically, I came across this paragraph while reading my new book: “Sharon (one of the authors) suggests calling your children when you are away and listen to how small they sound on the phone. I am always amazed at how young my seven-year-old still sounds when I talk to her. It reminds me to treat her like a little girl, not a little adult.”
So, when I returned home, I gave my oldest, but still little girl a great big hug and vowed in my mind to let her stay little for a lot longer! And when I forget her age and start to put pressure on her to act much older than her years, I’ll just step outside with my cell phone and ask her to please answer the phone when it rings!
http://foralittlewhile.wordpress.com/2009/03/22/wake-up-call/
