Wishes

Your newborn is wide awake, howling, at 3 am. Your 2-year-old refuses to put on anything but a tutu and it’s 30 below outside. Your 5-year-old is so frustrated trying to tie his shoes that he throws a sneaker across the room at his little sister. Your teenager is locked in her room day and night, blasting music and being a total b*&^h. And you wish to be anywhere but there…. to have a baby who sleeps through the night… a child who listens and does what she’s told… a teenager who knows how to tie his own dang shoes… an adult who actually talks to you without a snotty tone.

And someday, you will. And when that 6 year old, 10 year old, 18 year old, 25 year old, is standing in front of you, all big and tall and strong and so very, IMPOSSIBLY grown-up, you’re going to wish you had one more night with that howling infant, so teeny and sweet. Or one more afternoon with that crabby 2-year-old with the chubby hands, or one more day showing your kindergartener how to make the letters of his name.

So in those tough, terrible moments, when you wish for peace, and quiet, and your grownup life back, look ahead to those days when you’ll wish for exactly THIS. And know, that THAT wish, just came true.