A Letter to the Mom I Was When She Was in Kindergarten
A Letter to the Mom I Was When She Was in Kindergarten
Dear Younger Me, the one wrestling a tiny human into a snowsuit while simultaneously trying to remember if it's library day or gym day, and definitely wondering if you packed enough snacks:
It’s me. Well, it’s you, just… further down the road. Like, a considerable distance. She’s in college now. I know, right? You probably just spit out your lukewarm coffee. The leaves are falling outside my window, a quiet rustle I can actually hear, unlike the constant hum of a toddler cartoon you’re living with. And I thought it was time for a chat.
You’re so busy right now. I remember that feeling. The endless to-do list that never quite gets done, the constant background noise of tiny needs, the silent exhaustion that sometimes made you just stare into the middle distance and forget what you walked into a room for. You think the biggest challenges are convincing her that glitter is not, in fact, an approved food group, or navigating the intricate politics of the kindergarten playground. Bless your heart, those are noble battles, truly.
And you're doing a good job, by the way. Seriously. You’re showing up, even when you’re utterly spent. You’re praying over scraped knees and bad dreams. You’re teaching her about Jesus in the car on the way to school, even if sometimes your own faith feels a little thin around the edges because you’re just so tired. God sees that. He’s taking those messy prayers and those tiny moments, and He’s weaving them into something beautiful, even when you can’t pause long enough to see it.
Here’s the thing, and I want you to really hear this from me: it goes by fast. Like, impossibly fast. The days are long, yes, interminably so sometimes. But the years? The years are a blur. One minute you’re tying tiny shoelaces and helping her write her name, and the next you’re watching her pack a suitcase for her dorm room, wondering how on earth she grew up so quickly. It feels like just yesterday I was trying to figure out if that weird spot on the classroom wall was a science experiment gone wrong or just dried applesauce.
Don't sweat the small stuff quite so much. That stain on the carpet? It'll fade. The perfectly curated Pinterest party? No one but you will remember it. What she'll remember is you reading "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" for the zillionth time, or the way you snuggled her after a nightmare, or the quiet talks you had on the porch swing. She remembers the laughter, the grace, and the feeling of being loved exactly as she is.
So, take a breath. Look into her bright, curious eyes. Squeeze her hand. Whisper a quick prayer of thanks, even in the chaos. Trust that the seeds you’re planting now, in the midst of the crayon-covered chaos and the never-ending laundry, are growing into something truly wonderful. And know that you, weary and wonderful mom, are exactly who she needs.
With love and a knowing nod,
Future You
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Moms, what’s one piece of gentle wisdom you'd share with your younger parenting self if you could send a letter back in time?
#thisisme #aboutme #christianmom #wife #emptynester #simplelifestyle #etsy #artinsciencedesigns
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