Until They No Longer Need You

UNTIL THEY NO LONGER NEED YOU

I listened to him tell us about his dump truck.
His big blue eyes sparkled as he spoke. Any other person may not have understood half of what he was saying,
but I did.

He’s my grandson and memories of his own mother came flooding back.
With her lisp and tiny voice.
I could hear her telling me all about her little stuffed bunny.

Just like it was yesterday.

And this grandma wanted my daughter to hold that memory and make time stand still for a moment.
I wanted her to realize how much she would miss these seemingly trivial conversations with her son.

Telling mama about dump trucks.

But when we’re a young mom and in the thick of it, often we don’t even hear it.

They talk and talk and talk...
It is non stop.

Life is so busy, our schedules are so hectic, our day to day responsibilities are so weighing~

that we brush it off.
We don’t really pay attention.
It’s just background noise.

Until one day he is talking to you like an adult, and your heart skips a beat.

When did that happen?
When did it change?

Time goes on and pretty soon their life is too busy. Your children are adults with schedules and day to day responsibilities that weigh on them.

And then there is no talking at all. Moments that are few and far between.

You understand their busyness because~
wasn’t it just yesterday that you were there in the thick of it?
Wasn’t it just yesterday that your own mother was telling you how much she missed you?
How she wished you would visit more often?

And you were frustrated.
You complained that she had no idea how busy your life was.

Until it wasn’t.
But then it was too late.

Dare I say mama that you may think your life is hard now, that you will never get beyond the constant talking, interruptions and neediness~

You might wish for peace and quiet~
but one day all you will have is the quiet.

That’s when it’s hard.

So mama~
Soak up every single word.
Stop what you’re in the middle of while your child is talking to you, think about what I have said and try to picture that little one as an adult who no longer needs you.
Look at them~really look at them~
and listen,

because one day they will be too busy to talk and you will wish for that moment back again.
You will wish he was telling you about his dump truck like you were the most important person in his world.

Because honestly mama, you were.

Don’t ever take that for granted.

And one day, just because you remember that busy time in your life and you understand it~

doesn’t mean you miss your children talking to you any less.

You will remember those moments and wish you could have them back again.

Just you and your baby~

talking about dump trucks.