My daughter was sick last night. All over the futon, all over herself. It was certainly not something that I wanted to deal with in the middle of the night–especially knowing that there was no spare futon, and that I would end up sleeping on the hard floor.
I started off by giving her a shower, washing her hair, changing her pajamas. I’m at expert at this, after all. Due to a bout of RSV when she was three months old, my daughter has asthma. Her airways over react to any stimuli.
Coughing to the point of being sick used to happen daily, but it’s been over a year since the last episode. My daughter had forgotten about it, forgotten the routine. I had not. As I washed her up, she complained about how hard I was scrubbing, how these pajamas were too big, how the pillow was too hard.
When she was smaller, she used to only cry when I washed her.
It struck me how grown up she has become.
Recently, she was named group leader for her four-person group at school. (In Japan, it is very common for teachers to assign groups. They work together to distribute lunch and to clean up, as well as class work.) She takes this responsibility very seriously. Actually, a bit too seriously! She is stressed out about it. I can see how she is maturing and learning about what it means to be in change of others.
There are some things you can control, other things you cannot.
Later, after she was cleaned and changed, we both cuddled onto a futon meant for one. She rested her head in the crook of my arm and went to sleep, snoring softly. Such a big girl. Still such a little girl. So unaware of the joys and the trials that are awaiting her.
I rested my head on hers, encircling her in my longer, stronger, more experienced arms. While I still can, while she’ll still let me.
Please share moments when you feel how much your children have grown.
This is an original post by the author to World Moms Blog.
Photo credit: John Finn under a Flickr Creative Commons license.
Melanie, that was beautiful.
My daughter is still just three and a half, but lately, I’ve been finding myself staring at her little face in complete shock at how much it’s changed. From last month, last week, even yesterday.
She can reach the sink, she chooses her clothes, she wants nothing to do with me when she’s with her friends. But all night long, and first thing in the morning, it’s still, “cuddle, Mummy. Cuddle.”
I hope your daughter is feeling better. I also hope that you managed to get some sleep Melanie!
My 2 teens are MUCH taller than us so it must look ridiculous when we tell them off. It certainly feels ridiculous-like looking up at a mountain and waving a finger to reprimand it. However, they are only 13 and 14 so still need a firm hand.
Things were much easier when they were in primary school…
This is so touching! I get glimpses of this with my 9 year old. He’s so independent, and he no longer wants to cuddle up and read together at night. He likes his private space and a quick check in before last lights out. Yet when he’s not feeling well, he sleeps in a our guest room (which has an open door into my room) because he just needs to feel close…..so still my little guy.
I loved reading your post, Melanie!
And what a beautiful sweet picture to accompany your post.
I don’t even know what moment to share, there are so many!
My kids are growing up way too fast these days..