Todays Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul

[Guest guest]

Let Me

By tti

God, please do not let me miss those moments that I could have spent

with

my child. Let me carry him more often and feel his tiny body gently wrapped

in

my loving arms. For someday I will not have the strength to pick him up

anymore.

Let me hold him close to smell his freshly washed hair and breathe in

that

wonderful baby scent that covers his delicate skin, for surely he will not

smell

this deliciously sweet for very long.

Let me enjoy changing his diapers for this gives me the chance to play

with

his miniature toes, tickle his tummy and make him feel comfortable. Someday

he

will ask me to leave and shut the door behind me claiming he can manage by

himself.

Let me take more walks with him in his stroller while I can look down

at

his little face that is staring in wonder at this new world all around him.

Let

me do this often, for soon he will be able to walk on his own and leave the

safety of his carriage.

Let me stand beside his crib at night for longer than a moment to watch

him

surrender to his peaceful slumber. These nights spent in a crib will be

replaced soon enough by a much less cozy place for dreams.

Let me make him laugh every day. For I am sure the precious sounds of

his

first giggles are apt to change with time.

Let me delight in each and every milestone he reaches. Before I know

it

walking, drinking from a cup and other small miracles he has learned will

seem

ordinary.

Let me tell him how much I love him. Since there are bound to be times

when he will not want to sit still to hear this.

Let me continue to listen attentively to him even after he has mastered

the

art of talking. Since people tend to listen less closely to a child once

language becomes fluent.

Let me make time for peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake and other baby games.

There

will come a day when he will no longer want to participate in such childish

antics.

Let me learn to enjoy the sound of him calling me " Mommy " even if it is

yelled through the dripping of tears. For one day I will no longer be

" Mommy "

to him, but rather just " Mom. "

Let me be the world to him right now because as every mother sadly

comes to

realize, their babies soon discover the world outside of their mother's

arms.

Let me do these things and so much more, despite being busy, tired or

overwhelmed because I would hate to look back and harbor regrets of times

gone

by that were lost to less important things than my son.

Yes, dear Lord, I want my son to grow up to be a strong, loving and

intelligent man, but please Lord do not let this happen overnight because

someday memories will be all I have.