A Mother’s Delight: When A Daughter Melts A Mom’s Heart
Posted: Tuesday, July 29, 2008
by Laura Trahan
There are not many times in my life that I am not butting heads with my daughter.
"Those shoes do not match and are not tennis shoes, you can not wear them to school," I will say.
"I want to wear my slippers!! They are soft," my Hannah will retort in the whiny voice that sends all moms over the edge.
"Slippers are not appropriate for school! While we are at it, they are not appropriate for church or any time outside of the house!" I yell back in my best mom tone.
"Because they are not meant to be worn outside and will get dirty and torn up," I answer.
"But, but (she stutters when she tries to talk fast and not be interrupted by me) I want to wear them," she screams.
"I said no," I scream back!
"Why!" She has now crossed over to the fake crying.
"I already told you why," I say.
"But I want to! Why can't I wear them!"
"Because I said so!"
Yes, I say "because I said so" a million times a day! And yes, I am proud. These slippers she always tries to wear are actually bright blue with cows on them. Yes, you heard me right! And she always wants to wear them to the places where she will be running the most.
This is just one example of many arguments that we have every day. If it isn't over what she is wearing, it is over what she is eating. If it isn't over what she is eating, it is over taking a bath, brushing teeth or what she is watching or doing at the time. No, she isn't a teenager-she is only three!
It is the joy of having a girl. Girls butt heads no matter what the age. Grown women do it all the time. I did it with my mom way into adulthood, before she passed away. It is what women do! They argue and when two are in the same house-it multiplies and seems to be never ending. At times, I feel sorry for my husband and son as they try to help with the issues.
"You look so pretty in the tennis shoes," my husband will tell her trying to help out. Boy, he never knows what he is getting himself into with that action.
There is another type of joy that daughters bring. That is their love. Daughters tend to be the most loving despite the endless arguments. Today, my daughter reminded me just how caring she can be with her built in maternal instinct.
Yesterday, I did something stupid. I was standing and talking to a friend outside our church when I missed seeing a step, twisted my ankle and wiped out. Trying to hide my embarrassment, I said I was fine.
It wasn't long until I realized how bad my ankle was doing as I limped back to my car. My daughter who loves hugs and to be carried to bed each night was not happy when I informed her she needed to walk to bed. She did it reluctantly.
Today, it is bruised and all wrapped up. I watched as my daughter sat by my foot rubbing it softly. She then climbed up in my arms as I sat on the couch.
"Your foot hurt?" she asked.
"Yes, it still does," I said.
"Mommy, I want to play for you," she says.
"What?" I ask. My sweet girl is in speech so some times I miss what she is trying to say.
"I want to pray for you." She proceeds to make praying hands and closes her eyes.
"God, please make mommy foot better. Thank you- - -"
She looks at me, "I don't know what to thank God for"
"Whatever is on your heart baby." Yes, I am holding tears back at this point. I am a mom. I am allowed to cry.
"Thank you for mommy, Amen"
I can't tell you how proud I was of her at that moment. It made me feel like the most honored mom in the world. Without prompting, she wanted to pray for me. I have never been more delighted by my three-year-old girl!
Slippers? Of course you can wear them. You can wear whatever you want to.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)hi laura girl,that was a well written, sweet and sour story:)I don't know if i should tell you this or not, since i have a 23 year old daughter....it doesn't stop!i remember the school days, sloppy clothes needing to be changed against their will, long hair needing to be combed every day, and on and on.my boys? change your shirt. aw, mom. change it. done.i bought hair bands, barrettes, nothing stayed on that head. maybe on the way to the bus, but i don't think they made it past the first stop!my aunt in texas even sent me the horse shampoo to try and detangle it enough to make it easier to comb. nope.my daughter, the battle of the wits. i've got 20 years on ya babe, i hope things change. enjoy your daughter and her sweetness and her love, because when they leave, it is an empty and hollow feeling.thanks for sharing,best regards,sueSue-Thanks for the comment! Although I definitely am not looking forward to her leaving! Thanks for sharing about your own daughter. . . not sure I am looking forward to this never ending ;) As always, thanks!-Lauraagainst ever possible way i could think of, since my kids were young, and they were talking about piercings and tattoos, i've been worried.their father's IQ told them the more bazarre the more fun, and the better! my daughter just dyed her hair all black again-it was black and yellow. we have eye piercings, lip, tongue, nose, and my son has a tattoo, and wants another one. they ar 21 and almost 23, so i can't legally do anything, and crying didn't help :)what am i going to do, stop loving them? never. sometimes, you just have to let them be themselves, but that is very frightening to a mom at times! maybe your daughter will stop at 4!!!!!!i'm still going at it with my daughter going against everything i believe in and taught her, at 23.good luck, babe,sue
What a wonderful story! I can imagine God looking down on little Hannah taking in every syllable and being so happy as the sweet aroma of her prayers reached him!I hope you are better soon, Laura.Thanks Lorrie! What an awesome picture! Thanks for commenting!-Laura
Hi Laura, you made me cry! Little girls are a gift and when you have to buy jeans for her through middle school, remind yourself of how special it is, fall over purposely in the mall, and let out a whimper--guaranteed to stop you from being arrested for abuse. ha!When Britt was 2 1/2 we struggled with her wanting to clean up her toys. I had to walk her around the room, forcing her to bend down and pick them up until she was done. She was crying and ran out of her room. A few minutes later, she disappeared. I went searching for her and finally found her in the spare bedroom sitting on the bed with my Bible open. I asked her what she was doing and she told me that she was telling Jesus she forgives him because she was naughty. I just laughed and cried. I bet Jesus got a chuckle out of it too.I look forward to many more of your great mother/daughter stories :-)God bless you!
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