My youngest daughter wakes up happy almost every day. Her day begins with me waking her up at 8am. As I enter her dark room she rarely stirs. Each morning I am accompanied by a very happy eight month old pup. I kiss my little one good morning and then lift the pup up onto the bed. As I leave the room my youngest giggles with delight as the pup buries herself under the duvet.
And so the contrast begins.
I can tell you now, that if you woke me from a deep sleep, by placing the pup up on my bed, so she could subsequently lick my face and jump all over 
me, I would at no stage feel like giggling. In fact I may even cause you actual bodily harm as the pup is thrown at you (not a conscious action!).
It is this little ladys birthday soon. She is going to be twelve. Not quite a child, but certainly not an adult. She is so excited. Those who follow this blog will be pleased to note I have relented, and she will be having a sleepover, but not on her weekday birthday! As a result she is now looking forward to not only her birthday, but to the sleepover.
Tonight as I tucked her in and said “Goodnight” she asked me to wait for a moment. Up she jumped pen in hand. Hanging above her bed are two count down lists. In 13 days it is her birthday, and in 15 days it is the big sleepover. She was so happy ticking off each day. As I left her room it struck me, she lives in a permanent state of excitement. Life for her is full of future delights and every day one to look forward to.
It made me wonder how I look at tomorrow and the future. As we get older and so does life, do we stop appreciating the highs? Do we over emphasize the lows? As I look out on a sunny morning here in Ireland, I am deafened by the voices around me saying “There’s desperate weather on the way, high winds and lashing rain”. Is this what I am like? Can I not see the sunshine because I am waiting for the rain?
It’s time to go kiss my little one goodnight. As I tuck her up tonight I will breathe her in, and I will do my best to take away as much of her sunshine as I can. And tomorrow when I get up and possibly see the rain, I will look past it and smile, in anticipation of the sun that will follow.
photo credit: davidyuweb via photopin cc
photo credit: Toastwife via photopin cc
My thoughts on a page. 
Tric, this was beautiful. Sometimes we’re so caught up staring at the cloud, that we miss the rainbow. I’ve done it and I’m certain that we all have from time to time. I would love to live day to day with a child’s excitement for tomorrow.
On a different note – you’re letting her have another slumber party? Wow, she must be really melting your heart lately. 🙂 It’s hard to say “no” to those we love.
Yes I do look at my youngest and imagine how great life would be with her attitude.
As for the sleepover, it hasn’t happened yet. I was hoping she’d get sick of asking but no such luck so two weeks and we’re off!
Enjoy her happiness, they grow up far too quickly.
Yes. As she is my youngest, I really do appreciate her. Time is marching on at a very quick pace.
You’re little one is a leader and may not yet know it. Good for her. And wonderful you that you are obviously not one to ignore what may be. You were open to her lesson! 🙂 What a great gift she is. 🙂
She is truly magic. Especially as she is our youngest so all dealings with her intensified.
I’m too preoccupied with the present to worry about the future.
Yes I am too, but I think it would be a good aspiration to try to see the future as a child does, full of all that we look forward to.
Sadly, my experiences have taught me that childhood excitement leads to letdowns. For me, at any rate.
Let her enjoy it because in a very short time, there will work, bills and dealing with all the idiots out there who need to put her down in order to feel better.
I’m not sure this little lady can ever be put down.
aww
~
those simpler times …
Yes, that is what I want to keep, and a small measure of it to stay with me.
the world can be a wondrous place for a child – full of promise and potential, everything possible, every dream capable of becoming reality
occasionally, I recapture that mood
sadly it is all too rare
If only, as adults, we could see the world again through the eyes of a child !
It is so easy for us all to appreciate the moment while she is with us. When she is not…. that will be the challenge.
i am so happy too and counting down the days as well, on her behalf. i am a morning, excited for the day kind of person too, so i totally can understand that. not all of my daughters are however. when one lived with me for 6 weeks as an adult, we finally agreed not to talk in the morning, just smile and nod as i happy chatter made her insane, and her sullen, moodiness made me equally insane. we struck a good balance with the quiet, all her idea and it worked well for both of us . )
I had a v v grumpy morning sister when I was growing up. We all had to be quiet or she flipped. Thankfully this little one can just be as the others are very tolerant of her.
That could have been the longest 6 weeks ever if you hadn’t sorted out a compromise. 🙂
Lovely post. Coincidentally, my son will be 12 for his next birthday too and will be having his best friend over for the first sleepover. They have had sleepovers with cousins but never with friends. I just didn’t want to go there as you just never know plus it gives them that sense of excitement when it is more special. Hope it goes well.
Oh the excitement in this house is palpable. Only 8 more days. I’d say your son will be the same.