A random thought popped to mind when Mads and I were driving to school, listening to the Disney station on Pandora for the million and tenth time, which is carefully curated to include Tangled, Frozen, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. {I guess the girl has a few favorites…}
New music was recently added to the station {YES!!} and the classic Adventures of Winnie the Pooh song came on unexpectedly. Mads immediately identified the theme. And then after about a minute of listening, I thought to myself, “This song sounds so babyish.” I picked up my phone and glanced at the thumbs down button…
I stopped myself and realized what I was saying. Babyish? Was I trying to create some oxymoron with synonyms by calling a child’s song babyish? Um, quite impossible and so illogical. It didn’t – doesn’t – make sense. Why? Simply put: my baby IS a baby. This IS the music she should be listening to.
But there’s so much more than that…
Having this brief moment of clarity brought forth several reminders to my mother self. Every day, we dedicate ourselves to helping shape the lives of these little people – these little, precious gifts that will continue to grow. One day, they will make decisions, go to work, vote, grocery shop and everything in between, including laundry, picking car insurance and making their own doctor appointments. They will trade in naps for all-nighters and juice cups for coffee tumblers. Perhaps they will sit at a computer after a long day and start pouring their heart over a keyboard, like so many have done before them, or maybe they will just call it a night and get the recommended eight hours of sleep. In a blink of an eye, they became adults. They are us. No longer babies. A time when Winnie the Pooh is … babyish.
Until then, while we still have them little, lets savor the babyish moments. Put Winnie the Pooh on repeat. Get it stuck in your head. Sing it by yourself when you think no one else is listening. Give it a chance to just take over for a little bit and love it in a way that your little loves it – so fresh and new.
As if we need a reminder, growing doesn’t stop. Time does not stand still. And we will only have so many babyish moments left before they slowly fade into the background. Daily moments turned quickly into memories. So, lets just submerge ourselves with our littles. Be babyish. Why not?
Linking up with Ember Grey
Felecia
April 1, 2015It is so important to treasure those moments and this time, because growing up happens so fast. My niece who I watched this past two weeks has officially turned seven and her tastes and dislikes have changed. She is very talkative and question asking little girl, I still remember watching her when she was littler. I remember her learning to walk, the time seems to be flying. One thing I try to remind her as she dreams of getting older, is to enjoy where she is at now. One of my many favorite quotes by C.S. Lewis is, “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.” I think that applies to songs too. And another quote by him, “Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” I think we go through phrases with children’s songs and fairytales, of loving them, than its not cool to like them, back to enjoying them again. 🙂 I understand getting tried of the repeat of the same song.
Ann Ehnert
April 6, 2015So, so true, Felecia. The quote couldn’t be more true. I’m so thankful that we are given reminders, like our littles, to go back and revisit fairy tales. Your niece is so lucky to have a great aunt that reminds her to enjoy the moment she is in!!
embergrey
April 1, 2015This was beautifully written 🙂 I am a big Kenny Loggins fan… he has a song called Return to Pooh Corner and the older I get, the sweeter that song becomes. I love that your daughter was able to give you pause and welcome you to her world once again – what a sweet memory for you 🙂
Ann Ehnert
April 6, 2015That is a wonderful song. That is the one that actually reminds me of my dad and little brother. I can only hope Madeline carries these memories with her 🙂 Thank you for reading, Emily!
bubbs
April 3, 2015i now have tangled songs stuck in my head
Ann Ehnert
April 6, 2015xo
Melissa C
May 20, 2015I love this soo much! the fact that my 5 year old STILL asks for the “lilo and stitch” song on repeat WARMS MY HEART (aka hawaiin roller coaster ride… I have a disney mix cd). lol. this is just soo great.
Ann Ehnert
May 21, 2015I love it 🙂 So glad you shared yours! xo
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December 30, 2015[…] 02. Let Them Be Little […]