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One More Thing

Photcred: Trisha Marie Photography

My kids always have a catchphrase. For my 5 year old it was, "Mom, let me tell you something." And then she would proceed to tell me sumthin like it was the most exciting information on the planet. I don't remember the stories but I will always remember her enthusiasm.

This week she started kindergarten. [SOB] Which, by the way, I thought sending child #2 to kindergarten would be easier but nope, I cried harder this time.

Every day she got home buzzing with energy and stories and her phrase changed. "Just one more thing I need to tell you..." Story after story. "One more thing, mom." In the car, through dinner, at bedtime. The girl has stories. It is exhausting sometimes because I have the type of personality where I need to be left completely alone sometimes. (But I have 3 kids and doting husband so joke's on me!)

As a parent, there is always one more thing. One more dish to wash, one more bill to pay, one more load of laundry to fold, one more spill to clean, one more binder to sign, one more lunch to pack. Being told one more thing can honestly feel like your head might explode.

Then I think of the story in the Bible when Jesus stands before a crowd and tells them to let the children come to Him. "Do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to [them]." (Matthew 19:14)

You see those children were just one more thing for Jesus to pay attention to and yet He stopped what He was doing and acknowledged them and showed everyone how children need to be a priority.

Raising children is important work. A lot of work, but they are our pieces of heaven God entrusted us with to lead and guide and keep safe and love. And we can't do that without listening to them. Especially when they have something to say that is important to them. Even when we feel like we can't hear anymore words for the day and we're trying to slip out of their room after story time and lullabies, that "one more thing" is a tiny, valuable piece for building a healthy, tight knit relationship with our kids. And I don't won't to miss out.

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you  may look back and realize they were the big things."
-Robert Brault

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