“There’s this change happening with you.
Really slowly, but also really fast.
It’s beautiful to watch but h*lla’ scary too.
To see you grow up.
To see you pull away.
To use every last bit of my willpower NOT to pull you
back into my arms,
plop your almost bigger than me body on my lap,
and rock you and sing to you.
There’s this change happening with you.
And, because of it, change is required of me.
To loosen the reigns.
To let you lead.
To follow, of course, but at a respectful distance.
Many days of the past ten years have gone by real, real slow.
But the ten years you’ve graced
this planet,
our home,
and your father and I with your presence
has gone by incredibly fast,
and to think…
I’ve only got eight more.
Until you’re an official adult.
Until you fly the coup and land at a college campus somewhere.
It’s crazy to think that a person
has baby,
raises that baby until the baby is no longer a baby but still always your baby,
and then, BOOM, there’s this grown person,
who’s f*ckin incredible,
who’s going to change the world.
I don’t know if I’m ready for this, but, at the same time, I am ready for this…as ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”
![strong little girl mom doesn't want her to grow up](https://lwm-a2.azureedge.net/uploads/2022/04/278161301_417059616895598_3604758384718815444_n-900x1362.jpg)
This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Nicole Merritt of Jthreenme. You can follow her on Facebook, her website, or podcast. Get her new book, Musings for Mom, here. Submit your own story here. Be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.
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