As I stumbled into the room, still half-asleep, my daughter, Lily, looked up at me with big, tired eyes. “Mommy, I had an accident in my bed.” Feeling a wave of irritation mixed with exhaustion, I got out of bed in search of fresh pajamas. As I peeled off the damp ones, I couldn’t help but ask, with a hint of impatience, “Did you not go to the bathroom before sleeping?” She replied softly, “I think I forgot.”
A heavy sigh escaped me. I lay there, with Lily nestled between my husband and me, and I felt a knot in my stomach. How unfair I was being. In that moment, I realized how easy it is to get lost in the frustrations of adulthood—a grumpy, sleep-deprived parent with a bad attitude. But it’s just as easy to acknowledge our mistakes.
I turned to her and murmured, “I forgot to let you be little. I’m sorry, sweetheart.” It’s not the first time I’ve had to apologize to her, and it surely won’t be the last. This is part of the journey of motherhood.
Let’s choose not to “forget” that our children are, for a brief time, children. They deserve the space to make mistakes—spilling juice, tracking dirt through the house, and having little accidents. Let’s encourage them to embrace these moments, while we strive to maintain a better attitude when they are simply being kids. And when we falter, let’s humble ourselves and apologize.
Shall we gift them with the beautiful chaos of childhood?
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In summary, it’s vital to remember that the most valuable gift we can give our children is the freedom to be themselves, to make mistakes, and to know that we love them unconditionally—despite our own imperfections.