There's always a part of me that wants to say "No! Don't play with that... Don't climb on that... Put that down! You'll make a mess... you'll tear your clothes... you'll get hurt!" Etc. But as time goes on I've tried to care less about those kinds of things and care more about enjoying my children while they explore, create and learn. Tonight, Lilly found a sheet of star stickers. (She's been in love with stickers lately.) Immediately she began pulling them off and sticking them to our faces and saying "pretty mama". My first instinct was to say "Don't pull all of those stickers off. We might need them someday for something." Then I realized how silly that seemed. She wasn't doing anything wrong. She was just having fun and making her little sister and mommy look "pretty". So instead of telling her no, I said "Thank you," and "Wow, look how cute."
Farrah and I with our ornamentation.
Then, Lilly did something that melted my heart. She began kissing the stickers and putting them on my arm to make my "owies" feel better. This girl sure takes good care of her mommy! It definitely pays off to relax and let your children grow. I'm so proud of the little person Lilly is becoming. How lucky I am to be a mom! I get to see these little people in ways I would never be able to otherwise - through God's eyes. For all the potential they hold. For all the beautiful things I look at but that they help me really SEE. My girls teach me everyday. And for that I am eternally grateful.
