As I brush her hair, I notice it’s getting longer. So are her legs, and arms, and feet. How did age 8 seem so grown up all of a sudden? I use extra hair detangler spray to avoid the tears and the “mom you’re hurting me” yelps. Instead, I see her shoulders relax as I brush through her damp hair. A purple towel lays over her shoulders and she pulls it in close like a blanket. She starts talking to me about her day, and all the fun things she learned and did with her friends at lunch time. She shares about which musical instrument she would like to play next year when she enters the fourth grade.
Clarinet, she says matter of fact. I want to play the clarinet. She explains further that you can play low notes with that instrument, as well as high, where with a flute, you can only play high notes.
That’s my girl. Never liking to be tied down or without freedom to express herself, even with her future musical aspirations.
It’s amazing how a simple act of brushing your little girl’s hair can bond a mother and daughter.
I truly believe her love language is time spent with her and words of affirmation. Sharing and exchanging of words is extremely valuable to my daughter.
I will try to remember to do this more often. To take advantage of each special moment like this with her, sharing.
Soon I’ll be brushing her hair while she’s hooking a pearl necklace around her neck on her wedding day. I can picture her reflection in the mirror looking back at me, thanking me with her eyes for all the years of not perfect, but intentional moments well spent.
I want to cherish each moment I get to do the simple things, like brushing her hair, which I’ll look back and realize were the big things.
One Day I’ll Realize They Were The Big Things http://t.co/LB01X91FRg
— Traci Little (@TraciMLittle) January 23, 2015
My 22-month-old son has just recently discovered the use of a hairbrush, and insists on “brushing” my hair every morning now, so this entry really made me smile in a “oh, I totally get this!” way. It’s really the simple little things, isn’t it?
Happy Friday to you…
– Melissa
Ohhhhhh how sweet Melissa!
I love the idea of being intentional, but I had to laugh at the idea of bonding over brushing hair. Linds still gets teary when I brush her hair!!
But what a sweet reminder to cherish the moments!
So very sweet Traci. Stirred me to tears. Wish my baby girl (mid 40’s) were little again to experience these sweet things…thanks for sharing. Life is definitely short!!
This is beautiful. I remember how my mom always brushed my hair. I brushed my daughter’s hair while they were younger, but as they’ve gotten older, they don’t allow me to do it as often. Have a blessed week.
Hi Traci,
Oh, they grow up so fast and you want to halt the speeding train as it zooms into the future when she’s wearing that pearl necklace. Just continue to make time with her and for her and have fun with her. Our youngest son just married this spring and I miss the closeness we had. I long for those days when we watched his every basketball game or had long talks on our drives in the car. The guys always seem to open up them (funny).
Letting go has been hard, and God is telling me that He needs to be in that place of my children. As a matter of a fact, I’m guess posting at Jennifer Dukes Lee’s about “letting go” of that need for my children’s approval. It a fine balance our Mom hearts walk.
Loved your post and your comfy home here.
Blessings,
Janis