Reminder to Self

She is young only this once.

Tomorrow, she is one day older.
Tomorrow, today's moment has passed.

Be present.
Be thankful.
Be content.

I am her go-to person now...
When Dada scolds, she bawls, screams for "mama!" and runs to me.
A hug and a kiss and a stroke of her head and she feels better.

She then scurries away again.
In search of her drawing or musical or cuddly wiggly toys.
Or she searches for her Dada again, in spite of having rejected and pushed him away just minutes before.

I am grateful.
I am in love.
And I am still amazed at how K and I created this lovely little girl.

She can be a hard, stubborn and spirited nut at times.
A small but powerful ball of flailing, kicking limbs and screaming, screeching lungs.
A force to reckon with.

It's at times like these when we get tried and tested.
In all our tiredness and sleep-deprived state.
Our patience, our stamina, our grit, stretched and pulled in every direction possible.

Tempers flare, egos get trampled upon, sensitivities and mindfulness go out the window.
But we have to pause and breathe.
And we have to remind ourselves that.

She is young only this once.
Tomorrow, she is one day older.
Tomorrow, today's moment has passed.

I feel proud.
I feel happy.
I feel excited.

To see her grow.
To see her smile and run around.
To see her learn and explore and test the world around her.

I take heart in knowing that she finds comfort in my presence.
In knowing that she thinks of mama when she feels upset.
And in knowing that I am able to hold her close and cuddle her and offer her comfort and security.

Who knows how long this will last?
There will come one day when she will go to her Dada instead.
Or her friends, or her boyfriend, or ......

And so.
Be present, thankful and content.
Yes.

She is young only this once.
Tomorrow, she is one day older.
Tomorrow, today's moment has passed.