I had a thought yesterday that made me very sad.
I’ll never know you as an old woman.
My job as a mother is not to teach you to be an amazing kid, but to teach you to be an extraordinary adult. I want to guide you so that when you are an old woman, you will look back on your life and feel that it was well lived.
These are the things I wish for you when you become an old woman:
When your hair turns silver and your skin turns a bit sallow, I hope that your eyes shine as brightly as they do today.(tweet this)
I hope your happy memories outweigh your worries.
I hope you dance…even if it’s slowly.
I hope the world is good and that kind people surround you.
I hope you have a companion, be it a partner, a child or a friend.
I hope the mistakes you’ve made in life have been long forgotten and the bright spots sparkle.
I hope you found a unicorn.
I hope you celebrated every birthday with those that you love.
I hope you travelled and laughed and sang at the top of your lungs.
I hope you did work that you loved, that you helped people and that you prayed daily.
I hope you aren’t in too much pain.
I hope you let your kids stay up late so that you could snuggle under the covers and tell each other secrets. I hope you have grandchildren and that they talk…constantly.
As the years pass, my greatest wish is that I taught you well. That you were able to fight when you needed to and give in when you wanted to. That you helped others and were kind to yourself.
I hope you shine.
I know you’ll shine.
And I hope. I really, really hope….that I taught you well.
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View Comments (6)
Do you have anything for
granddaughter or daughter
in law?
I'm not a grandmother, so everything I write is to my daughter. Let me know what you need and I'll see what I can do! Thanks Elaine.
This made me think of my mom who passed away almost 7 years ago. I wish I could thank her for loving me so much and am grateful every day to have been brought up by her
I'm so sorry that you lost your mom, Yvonne. I can't imagine the emptiness of wanting to pick up the phone to call her and not being able to do that. No matter how old our mom's get, we are still their "kids."
Do you write anything on Advice TO My Son or know anyone that does. I love these writings of yours and would love to read some regarding SONS. Thank you so very much for your writings.
Thank you so much for the question, Janet. I don't have a son, so it wouldn't be right for me to speak to it, but I really hope that someone does because I get asked that a lot!