Driving to the park the other day, Little O asked me a question out of left field.
“Mommy, can I please stay 3 forever?”
“Stay 3 forever?” I repeated, glancing at her in the review mirror. “Why, sweetie?”
“Because I really, REALLY love being 3. I always want to be 3!”
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Her emphatic response made me smile.
And then nod in agreement.
If I was Little O, I’d want to stay 3 forever, too.
At 3, she has that sparkly love of life, that easy giggle that turns into a hearty belly laugh, that way of wrapping her sweet little self around your heart.
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A part of me agrees with her~ wouldn’t life be easier if she was always little? We could keep her safe and happy and close to us all the time. Shield her from heartbreak & disappointment & hurt feelings & meanness.
But my heart reminds me that isn’t possible. Or fair.
She has wings and she needs to fly.
Very soon, Little O will be spending a few hours a week away from us. Away from our cozy house, our comfortable routine, our rules, our inside jokes & dance parties. Instead, she’ll playing with her fab friends & learning exciting new things at preschool.
I’m not ready for it yet, but I’m trying to be.
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To be 3 forever~ a sweet wish, Little O, but not possible.
But I can promise that a tiny part of 3-year-old you will live in my heart forever.
I’ll watch you learn & grow & flourish through the years and every so often, I’ll untuck 3-year-old you from my memory & let your giggle-turned-belly-laugh light up my life, again and again and again.
Counting My Kisses: I love you at 3, Little O. I also loved you when you were growing in my belly, when you were brand-new, when you turned 1 & 2. Each year is special and different, and you’ll learn that as you get older. But for right now, just enjoy being 3. You are rocking this year quite well, sweet girl.
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amy_countingmykisses
Amazing!!! You have such a beautiful way with words!!! Thank you for allowing us all to be a part of your family and the girls growing up. Love you all!
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Aw, for seriously. I’m about to do the same with Nora- send her off to preschool and keep her small in my heart forever. (And maybe in my arms, too, unless I manage to let her walk through the school’s doors.)
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Cue the waterworks! This is so sweet and real and beautiful. I loved it!!
So glad I stopped by from SITS Saturday Sharefest!
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Your lucky! My 3 year old wants to grow to big enough to go to school. I know that she would love to be able to go to preschool but sadly there isn’t that option here in our small town. I hope she loves it!
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Aw, that’s sweet and adorable. And slightly bittersweet, sigh.
Love the pictures!
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“But I can promise that a tiny part of 3-year-old you will live in my heart forever.” Love that! And at a mom to a 15-year-old girl, I can tell you it’s true. No matter how big they get, you’ll look at then now and then and see the sweet, carefree little girl they once were — and it makes your heart swell.
Happy Saturday Sharefest!
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This is so incredibly sweet. Being a parent is one of the most important jobs in the world. Each parent contributes to the future of our world. It’s comforting to know that our future has experienced the immense love you have shown.
Visiting from SITS.
-Pricilla
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Such cuteness! My middle girl doesn’t want to grow up – and definitely never wants to move out of our house!
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