Sleep in on a Sunday, and then honour a wish to hold them tight.
Because the dirty dishes can go unwashed.
Because the floor can be swept later on, and because the yogurt can go on living in their hair just a couple hours or a day more.
Their socks needn’t match.
Respect your combined inclination to feel the sun on your face when the sun is shining, and feel the chill come over your rubber boots when it’s raining and you join in on the puddle jumping.
Join in without hesitation.
Listen. Really listen. Together, to the wind weaving through the boughs and branches, and to the birds calling you, sweet and soft.
Watch their eyes twinkle and their cheeks grow rosy.
Watch them soak in their experience, rather than going through the motions.
Follow their lead and drag your feet in the pine needles.
Move slow.
Hold their warm hands, as long as they will allow, and then let them gather every last pinecone on the trail until your combined pockets are overflowing with crunchy treasures.
Pick them up if you can, when their legs grow tired.
Be their person.
Be their present, by choosing presence.
Today, don’t participate in the rat race. Say ‘no’ to the ‘yes’ you had said out of guilt, and spend time instead of money.
Choose your people. Choose perspective.
Make a lazy pancake supper, because you can, and to top it off, choose to whip the cream and choose the extra large mug for hot chocolates.
There’s only today and today they need you. Today your child needs your time.
Hold their growing body against yours, expanding and lengthening inside your clutch. Compliment them on their strengths, and tell them you love them until their ears turn inside out.
Be grateful to be able to make such simple choices. Spend less time in a moving car and more time on the living room floor.
Find joy now and laugh, playing Go Fish with a deck of incomplete cards.
And then kiss their knees when they stumble back to you, tumbling with excitement to return to your game.
Choose tenderness because it comes natural to you.
Tickle, and spin, sing and dance.
Choose to make your moments matter.
Go to bed with unfolded clothes in a heap on top of the dresser drawers, but knowing today was perfection in its own way.
Be grateful.
Honour each other. Hold them tight.