My 19-year-old daughter was sick this week with a high fever and a sore throat. It's so funny that no matter how old you are, when you are sick you want your mom. So I was there. After cool compresses, medicine and soup I was tucking her into bed like I used to do when she was little. Walking out the bedroom door, I said "Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite," like we used to do. "M&M's," she mumbled.
M&M's? She must be hallucinating. Maybe it was the NyQuil.
"M&M's, red ones." OK...now I was getting a little worried.
"Remember? You used to tell me every night "I love you 101 red M&M's.""
Until right then, I didn't remember. When I used to think I would remember everything. Every routine and tradition, every occasion. I forgot. But she didn't.
I have less than 2 days to mother a teenager into her 20s. It went so fast. A blink, really.
In the hustle and bustle and crisis of everyday life, this child grew up when I wasn't looking. If I had one thing to tell her on the verge of this birthday it would be this:
I love you. Scary love. I love your sense of humor. I love the way you and your dad get along. I love that you still come to me to talk things through. I love you. Just that.
And that, my love, I will never forget.
1 comment:
Awwwwww...... This is so sweet. Nothing like being a momma.
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