Make it count. Even—especially—on the hard days.
And I realize: She doesn’t need a perfect mother. She just needs me . mom little girl
You are her first love, her first hero, and her first understanding of what a strong woman looks like. Make it count
Every day, I see pieces of my own childhood reflected back at me—but through a softer, brighter lens. When she twirls in her too-big princess dress, I see the clumsy joy I once had. When she furrows her brow in concentration while drawing a rainbow, I see my own stubborn determination. She just needs me
So I will soak up the messy ponytails, the crayon on the walls, the 4 a.m. bed invasions, and the endless chorus of "Mommy, watch this!"
One day, she won’t want to hold my hand in the school drop-off line. One day, she will roll her eyes when I sing along to the radio. One day, her secrets will be for her friends, not for me.
In the Eyes of My Little Girl: A Reflection on Motherhood