The company of children

A beautiful post from one mother to another to-be-mother…

There were days when my home used to be filled with laughter, arguments, fights and loads of mischief. 

Pens and books all over, and clothes strewn on the beds, messed-up rooms. 

I used to constantly shout at them to tidy up their mess. 

In the morning:

  • One would wake up and say: “Mama I can’t find my book!”
  • And the other would say: “I can’t find my shoes!”
  • And one would ask: “Mama, where’s my perfume?”
  • And another: “Mama, I forgot to complete my homework!”

Everyone used to ask about their lost possessions.  And I would say, “but take care of your stuff, be responsible, you have to grow up.”

And today, I stand at the doorway of the room. The beds are empty.  The cupboards have only a few pieces of clothes in them.

What I have now is the memory of their laughs and their mischief and their warm hugs. 

Today my house is clean and organised and everything is in its place, and it is calm and peaceful. But it is like a desert with no life in it.

Do not become angry with your kids about the mess. 

Every time they come to visit us and spend time with us, when they are ready to leave, they pull the zips of their bags and it is as if they tug my heart along with it. 

They close the door behind them and then I stand still and think of the many times I shouted at them to close the doors. 

Here I am today, closing my own door. Nobody opens it besides me. Each one gone to a different city or a different country.  All left to find their own path in life. 

They have grown up and I wished that they could stay with me forever.

O God….. Take care of them & all other children wherever they may be, for You are their guide and protector. Always keep them happy.

If your children are still in a stage that you need to talk and talk before you could get things done in the house, please cherish and endure it with joy. Don’t nag, they will soon leave your home for you. Remember they were not there at the beginning of your marriage. Now that they are around, make them happy and feel happy yourself. 

Dedicated to all mothers, fathers, grandmothers & grandfathers.