My family

My family
2023

Monday, March 3, 2014

Little Things are BIG Things

A friend once told me that one of the best parts of her job was that she was able to greet her daughter as she got off the bus each day. Her daughter was in high school, but my friend was still grateful to be there each day as her daughter walked through the door. At the time I remember thinking "that's so sweet - for you". I had no idea if I would be able to do that for my daughters as they got older, or if I'd even want to. I mean, we've all heard the stories of the rocky teenager/parent relationship. Some of use have probably experienced it either as the parent or as the teen.
Today, as I sit here, my daughter, age 15, sits beside me doing her homework and I am so grateful that I too have been able to greet my 3 girls each day after school. Over the years my girls have gotten off the bus with smiles and laughter after a good day. There are grumbles and complaints when a teacher has assigned a lot of homework or there was an annoying kid on the bus. I have been able to help them when they get home not feeling well. There have been many little things that I am grateful they shared and I got to experience. It doesn't seem like much to them but it is huge to me.
Why is this little thing such a BIG deal to me? First, it keeps me connected. My friend said she could see on her daughters face before she even asked what kind of day it had been. I have found that this is SO true. I don't have to ask "How was your day?" I can see it. Second, it allows me time with them. Quality time isn't always "fun" time. In our house, snack time, homework time and even "chore" time can be quality time if we let it. Last, but not least, my girls know I am there for them when they get home if there IS something big they are facing. That to me is priceless.
The teen years are hard today, harder than when I was a teen. In the 3 years we have had a teenager at home the following real life situations have greeted me at the door with one or more of my girls - my friend is cutting (herself not skipping school), my friend thinks he's gay, my friend thinks she wants to practice WICA, my friend wants to commit suicide, my friend is being abused, my friend is moving, my friend's cancer is back, my friend with cancer died, and today's was "my friend was taken from school in an ambulance when his shirt caught on fire during welding class". All big things I don't recall facing at 13,14,15 years of age. The normal teen stuff is there too "he likes me, I don't like him" friend A is fighting with friend B and all that "Drama".
Yes, I am VERY blessed to be able to be here when my girls get home from school each day. I try not to take it for granted, but I will be honest, sometimes I do. Then something happens - something big or something small- and I am reminded what a big gift I have been given in my children, in each day I have with them and that I can be here when and if they need me. Whether you get to greet your kids as they get home from school or when you get home from work, treasure each moment, good and bad, big and small because it is all so temporary and it is all a gift.