Sometimes I see glimpses of my little girl, moments where she holds on to me not wanting our goodnight cuddles to end. Other times I feel her annoyance at me, that look that tells me I am being embarrassing, or that I don’t understand what is is like to be a teen. I love her beyond what she could ever comprehend at her age, and yet these days she can drive me crazy as easy as flipping a switch. I remain calm, I remain patient. I pick my battles.
There are times where I need to pull her up on her tone, or attitude, but she is a great kid. The thing is though, she is not a kid, yet she is so far from being a woman. I do remember being a teen (it wasn’t quite a hundred years ago), but I don’t know what it is like to be in her mind, and her body, that is sacred to her. I remember the confusion of being a teen, and the pressure of school, also the pressure of trying to be the good girl that made my parents proud, but also the daring girl that wanted to explore who I was without limitations. Although I can read my daughter very well, she is her own person, and I don’t know what life is like in her mind. So I remain patient.
I want to wrap her in cotton wool, protect her from all hurts, and I especially want to take away her insecurities. I want her to see how amazing she truly is, how bright, how hilariously funny, how absolutely stunning she is, and I want her to know that life has amazing things ahead for her! I want to shield her, yet I want to set her free to soar!
Motherhood is confusing, so is being a teen. Together we will learn.
“My precious daughter, I will hold you gently whilst you cry, and I will hold you tightly whilst you sob. I will laugh with you at the jokes only we get. I will catch you when you stumble, and I will be the one clapping loudest when you achieve what you want to.
I will believe in you even when you doubt yourself, I will walk beside you when you need me, and I will set you free when you wish to fly, and fly you will my amazing child.
I have always told you that you are my miracle, that you fought so hard to be born, you are stronger than you know, you are more beautiful inside than anyone I have ever known, your heart and love are endless. You shine my beautiful daughter, always believe in yourself, as I will always believe in you.”
Mothering a teen is not easy, and it will challenge me so much further I am sure, but watching her grow into who she is meant to be is the greatest blessing I could ask for.
Speaking of parenting, it is now time to share some gorgeous photos taken by some parents this week and shared on the #mummyshot tag on Instagram. Each Saturday I feature my favourites. Here are this weeks featured photos.
Featured photos here are by @dancingdandelionsblog. @cardiffmummysays.
@clarehuggetsmith. @itsagingerbreadlife.
If you are not following these Instagramer’s pop over and check them out. Thank you to everyone who tags us, Catie and I have such a hard time choosing each week. Pop over to Catie’s blog and check out her favourites too.
My favourite from Catie’s Instagram this week is this gorgeous pic
My own favourite from my Instagram feed is
Thanks for joining me, love Mac xx
14 comments
Beautiful choices lovely and a really special post too. This mothering business is hard but so worth it. Thank you for hosting #MummyShot 📸
This is so touching, it sounds as though you are doing a great job bringing up your daughter #satsesh@_karendennis
Being a mum really is so hard sometimes. A beautiful round up too :). Thanks so much for sharing with #Blogstravaganza xx
Lovely post about your lovely daughter. It’s hard having teens I agree but also so special and fun. #blogcrush
Lovely photos and lovely words. Patience is so important in parenting yet so hard to be sometimes! #thesatsesh
#thesatsesh Ohhh this is so lovely, plus my son is 4 years old and I always wonder whether i’ll still be taking photos of him sleeping when he is a teen…now i know the answer, YES!
Ah it is so tough isn’t it? We’re obviously not at the teenage stage yet but it does fill me with dread. Sounds like you’re doing fab though! #TheSatSesh
This is so beautiful! You write with such gentleness and love. I am dreading having to parent a teenager one day but, as you say, we just need to learn together – mother and daughter. #blogcrush
Lovely. Such a pretty girl. Thanks for joining #Blogstravaganza. Hope to see you again.
It is so hard but rewarding in equal measures. I think the hardest bit is the constant challenges that you have to face and overcome and you never know we’re actually doing them right or not X #ABlogginggoodtime
What a very special post, lovely Mac. Your daughter will be very happy one day when she reads your archives. And I know what a lucky young lady she is, having such a wonderful and loving mum. You are giving her the gift of living out loud! M’wah! #ablogginggoodtime xoxo
BTW, the #mummyshot pix are wonderful! xoxo
Beautiful choices – one of my face instagram communities xx
Thanks for linking to #ablogginggoodtime Don’t forget to join us this week!
This hit me right to my heart. Very touching and inspirational. The bond between a mom and her daughter is special. I have a daughter too. There were times I hoped I could stop time so she can be my little girl forever. But I realized it’d be selfish on my part. Coz how else can she experience the fun of being a teenager, the joys of friendship, the dream of being successful, the feeling of falling in love…if I don’t let her. My daughter is my precious angel, just like your daughter is to you. Seems to me you are doing a wonderful job as a mom. It’s been both a pleasure and sorrow to see them grow and need you less and less. But at the end of the day, we can give ourselves a pat on the back coz seeing them now… we know we did good.
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