The Moment I Almost Missed…

A quick note first: I hosted Easter at our house this year (fun!) and didn’t have time to write a post for today, so I’m putting up one from the archives. Even though this was from last year, I still have moments like this: moments where I say no too quickly. And moments where, when I don’t, I’m so glad.

The Moment I Almost Missed…

It was after 9:30 p.m. on a school night.

Mike was at a dinner meeting, my son had just fallen asleep, and I still had a lot to do before the next day.

(We’d been at my daughter’s play practice and had gotten home later than usual.)

“Will you stay in my room for a while?” she asked as I tucked her in.

“Not tonight,” I said, thinking about everything I needed to do. “It’s late, and you need to get to sleep.” I leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.

She reached her arms around my neck and hugged me. “Please?”

I wavered, thinking about the dishes, the laundry, the emails.

“Please?” she asked again.

“All right.” I sighed, giving in. “But just for a minute.”

I sat down on her bed.

She reached out and held my hand.

We didn’t talk much.

She was tired and so was I.

Instead, we listened to the hum of her ceiling fan and the bubbling of her fish tank.

“Goodnight, Mommy,” she said, yawning.

“Goodnight.”

As I sat there, it hit me that she’ll be in sixth grade–in middle school–next year. And I don’t know if she’ll be asking me to stay in her room with her at night much longer.

I wished I hadn’t told her no so quickly.

And I savored the moment, realizing that someday–someday probably too soon–these times together will be memories, and not something we do regularly.

One minute turned into two.

Two into three.

I didn’t want to leave.

I watched her eyes close and listened to the sound of her breathing as she fell asleep.

And I was more thankful than ever for that moment…

the moment I almost missed.

What about you? Do you ever say no too quickly? Have you had any memorable times with your kids lately as a result of just saying yes? I’d love to hear about it!

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Comments

  1. This really touched me today. Howe many moments have I missed by being too quick to say no? I need to slow down and start saying yes!

  2. What a tender post! Enjoy those precious moments, and good for you for rethinking your answer. We enjoyed time with daughter and grandson this weekend. How quickly the grow up!!

  3. I just had that moment last night. I told my oldest no when he asked me to read him a book. Then as I walked out of his room, I walked to our bookcase in the family room and picked out three of our favorite books and walked right back into his room and as sat at the foot of his bed. I wish I took more time to say yes quickly than no. Because like you, I feel these days are going by fast and will be few and far between.

  4. I love this post! I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to kick myself in the you know what for almost missing a moment!I tried to add your button to my blog, but it will only post the text and not the button :(

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