Work has been chaotic lately—far more than just 'messy' or 'busy.' My mind has been racing as I navigate these turbulent shifts. I've read that processing such upheavals is like grieving: bidding farewell to the familiar and opening up to the unknown. I'm not great at letting go, especially when what's slipping away wasn't all bad. Thankfully, children offer profound lessons in release, as this story reveals.
Around 7 p.m., it's time for my little girl to wind down. Like her mom, she resists: stalling, whining, requesting one more story, extra hugs, and suddenly, a thirst for water. Once tucked in, she sweetly asks if I'll stay the night. We had a deal for holiday sleepovers, but with school tomorrow, I explain she needs real rest—not just snuggling. She giggles at that.
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Okay, five more minutes of chatting and cuddling it is. Those minutes stretch to fifteen. As I head for the door, she asks, “Mama, will you check on me later?” Of course, I reply—every night. “But you visited the neighbor tonight for her birthday, right? How long until you come back?” I assure her I'll slip in before bed for a kiss or pat.
“But Mom, I won't notice if I'm asleep!” I promise she will, somehow.
At the doorway: “Mom?” “Yes, doll?”
“If you stay with me, can we say goodbye to bad dreams together and have fun forever? You need more fun too.”
She's only five, yet so wise. I return to her bed: “Agreed, sweetheart. Fun together for life.” Suddenly, letting go feels effortless.
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