“I’m so glad you’re my mama.”
Those are the most beautiful words a mother can hear her child say. (Especially this frazzled mama who isn’t ever sure she’s doing anything right.)
How did I get to hear those amazing words? Well, Teagan stayed home sick from school last week for three days. I took this photo about 5 minutes before she crashed. She came home from school seemingly healthy, except for the mild sore throat she complained of the night before. It had rained almost all day but the rain stopped by the time school was over. As soon as she got off the bus, she ran into the house to pull on her rain boots and started splashing in this huge puddle at the end of our driveway. She floated leaves in puddles and watched leaves race down the drainage ditch.
Suddenly, she came to me, face all scrunched up, and said she was going inside because she was sick. Soon, she was feverish, coughing and lying on the couch. Poor kiddo worked hard all day trying to be healthy and then just completely fell ill as soon as she got home.
I immediately started her on a regimen of homeopathic remedies and cough syrup, Vitamin C cough drops and a vaporizer with eucalyptus. Even though I hate her being sick, I love being able to stay home to take care of my sweet little girl.
At 4 am the next day, Teagan was awake with a cough, warm to the touch, bellyache and all over uncomfortable. I laid in bed with her, rubbing her back, being thankful for every stroke. Someday she will be too big for her mama to cuddle her and rub her back. Later, at a more reasonable hour, while I was trying to get her to eat a little something for breakfast, Teagan looked at me and said “I’m so glad you’re my mama. You take good care of me when I’m sick.” Melt my heart! I nearly cried when she said that and again now as I write it. What a sweet, amazing child with an enormous heart who is learning to be thankful and see God’s blessings in her life.
Usually I feel like I’m far behind so many other mothers in my parenting skills, the grace I show her and everything else you can think of. But in these sweet moments, I know all of the hard work has paid off and my little girl knows how much her mama loves her.
Thank you, God, for giving me this incredible child. Thank you for giving her to me and allowing me to be her mama.
Mother Daughter trip to Iceland!
