This Little Light of Mine

I'm gonna let it shine!

I had the unique pleasure of watching my daughter explore her new school's playground this morning. She had no idea I was with older children on the playground next to her. I was teary eyed for the first few minutes I watched because I realized that at a mere 13 months, she is ready to start taking this world on alone. Obviously, she will still need help in many ways, but seeing her go off on her own to explore was bittersweet.

I watched her get excited about finding a ball (her absolute favorite toy), engage another child in a game of peekaboo through a short tunnel, and join the group exploring ice cubes in the sensory table. She was definitely excited to see the world without me. But just as children do, she wailed when I picked her up, like she had the worst time in the world without me.

She runs, she sings, she dances, and I have the pleasure of watching as she grows. I will forever encourage her to sing and dance to that song in her heart. I will forever encourage her to explore and find joy in all the wonders of the world. I will walk beside her through this life, beaming the whole way through.

#shine #parenting #children