Tonight as I went in search of the tiny yellow box, not remembering for a bit where I'd put it, I thought again, When will she be too old for this? Finally I located the box, helped her tuck it under her pillow, and layed beside her for our nightly prayers. As I kissed her goodnight she said...Mom, I have a question...
And I knew.
She was about to ask.
Before she uttered another word I said... Sweetie, make sure you really want an answer before you ask.
She thought for a second and then...Yes, I really want an answer.
Then she asked.
And I immediately regretted my earlier feelings. Why did I want this to end? Why did I think she was too old? As we talked (she handled the news quite well), my heart ached as I realized the first step out of childhood had just happened for her. What comes next? Santa? Oh please no.
I realize it's a milestone that had to happen, maybe needed to happen, but it's still tough.
Then as I walked out of her room, just a few moments ago she called out...
Mom, you know I'm just gonna forget about this, right?
And I smiled. She wants to hang on just a little longer, and that's just fine with me.
5 comments:
That makes me sad. We have a nine year old and I know the wheels are turning in her head but I just can't bring myself to tell her yet. I will when she asks. It's the end of an era.
AJ asked when he was 6. He has pulled his 3rd tooth. He came in & handed it to me as he was getting ready for bed. I said something to the effect of "aren't you going to put it under your pillow for the tooth fairy?" He told me he knew it was me & daddy who took the tooth & left the money. He said "I know the tooth fairy is not real. Just like I know Santa Clause is not real." I took the opportunity to make a special memory by pulling out his baby book & showing him the tooth chart where I had written in the dates when his teeth came in, and I had saved all of the teeth he has lost in tiny baggies & attached them to that same page with the dates he lost them. He thought that was pretty cool. Now when he loses a tooth, he wants to put it in the baby book. The truth finding phase is indeed the end of an era, but it is also a chance to make other memories that can be just as special.
Oh this makes me so sad....but such a sweet comment as you walked away! I'm just glad I didn't get the Santa question this summer....I so thought it was coming at one point!!! I just didn't want to be the one to break the news. I hope she can keep it a secret to Annie and Austin!
that's so sweet! and really well written.
What a sweet post!! Love it.
Post a Comment