Last night as I lay with my 7 year old in bed, I combed my fingers through his hair and said “I love you,” like I always do.
Normally he is quiet. He doesn’t respond but I can hear his slow deep breaths. My son has special needs, and emotions and especially empathy seem to lag. But last night, for the first time, he said “yea. Me too,” and my eyes filled with tears.
Seven years to get here. Seven years of ups and downs, hills and valleys. Doctor appointments, specialists, therapy. And it all came together last night like a missing puzzle piece that was tucked away between the couch cushions.
“Remember this moment,” I told myself as I restrained myself from screaming with joy. Remember this feeling. Because it’s taken me 7 years to even get here. And there are so many challenges that remain.
Yesterday, my sister-in-law told me that parenting is like planting a seed. You water it and water it and water it and sometimes you don’t see anything. Progress feels stagnant and so many times you wonder if you failed altogether. And then one morning you wake up and you see a little bud peeking out through the dirt. And it’s tiny — blink and you could miss it. But because you are looking every day, because you watch and your heart and soul goes into it… You see the progress. You see the little bud.
Last night was a beautiful bloom in my parenting garden. Almost like God giving me a little wink saying “I see you. You keep watering, and I’ll keep bringing the sunlight.”
And I will remember this night forever. Especially when it gets hard or progress seems stagnant. In parenting we just need to keep watering our garden, and remember that the most beautiful, robust plants need time, water, and sunlight to bloom.
Leave a Reply