On Monday I did a thing.
After a little planning and coordinating, I took my 5 year old daughter out for some very special quality time.
I set out to spend quality time with each of my girls, but I had this strong urge, this pulling on my heart strings, to take it up a notch for my oldest.
It wasn’t fancy. It wasn’t far. It wasn’t very expensive.
But it was special, and memorable, and everything we both needed.
About a week or so before our mommy-daughter date, I felt like I needed to re-connect with my little girl. She has such a kind and sensitive heart, but she challenges me as well.
She is that child.
The one who gets in trouble for acting just like me, and I often find myself short on patience with her.
A lot of my mom guilt stems from our interactions.
I’m in a constant battle of wills with her, wondering if I’m pushing too hard or not enough. Praying that I’m encouraging, not discouraging her. Hoping that she will grow up respecting, not resenting me. And often left wondering if I’m doing anything right at all.
It doesn’t help that everything is always so busy, but I wanted to do something to show her that I do see her.
I see that she’s growing and maturing every day. I see her intelligence and her beauty. Her caring spirit. The way she stands for what is right, and how her precious heart loves the Lord.
So we went. Just the two of us.
We went…
We ate pizza and gelato, and she squealed with glee when they gave her a ball of her very own dough.
We went to the dollar movie theater and she got the biggest kick out of that silly old Boss Baby.
We shopped at Payless where she was able to pick out two pairs of new summer shoes.
We roamed the aisles of Target, because, well, because mommy couldn’t resist. LOL.
We met up with one of our dearest friends for her birthday dinner, and Alex hummed with joy at every bite of shrimp.
We went to a local hotel for the night, where she unpacked her bag like she was somebody’s mama. Then she jumped over and over and over again on the bed.
We snuggled during Paw Patrol and gave each other manis and pedis. We ate junk food, had girl talk, and ignored the clock when we finally went to sleep.
I let her get the sugary cereal at the continental breakfast, and push all the buttons on the elevator.
She smiled so much and squeezed me so tight, and said I was the best mommy ever, about 10 different times.
My darling girl will be going into kindergarten next month, and that is cause to weep celebrate. But it’s also a major wake-up call that time keeps moving on.
I’m thinking this will be a new tradition every year. One we can continue with the fondest of memories, the biggest of hugs, and the heartiest laughter.
One that isn’t about the ‘what we do’ as much as the ‘who we’re with’. And it is one that I will pass on to her younger sister, so she will also know, that, yes, mama sees her too.
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