Today unfolded quite differently than I had anticipated. The list of tasks I had hoped to tackle remained untouched. In fact, little one, I truly didn’t get anything done, all thanks to you.
I didn’t manage to get through the laundry that’s been piling up for days, spilling over the sides of the hamper and nearly tripping me every time I step into your room. Instead, I watched you rummage through your drawers, trying on and casting aside twenty different outfits before finally settling on the “big blue choo-choo shirt,” which you proudly pulled over your head (inside out, of course).
I didn’t assemble the bookshelf that we ordered last week. Instead, I joined you in the fort you built – your favorite blanket draped between the box of bookshelf pieces and the TV stand – where we lost ourselves in stories together.
I didn’t practice your ABCs as I had intended. Instead, I practiced patience, biting my tongue when I saw the trail of Cheerios you scattered around the house, reminiscent of Hansel and Gretel (one of the tales we shared in your fort).
I didn’t drive the van to Jiffy Lube for an oil change, even though that pesky warning light has been flashing for a week. Instead, I raced Hot Wheels cars across the kitchen floor with you, delighting in your laughter when they collided with the cat, sending her hissing from the room.
I didn’t cook the chicken that’s been lingering in the freezer. Instead, I let you whip up plastic sandwiches in your toy kitchen while I sipped pretend coffee.
I didn’t reach out to the maintenance guy about the malfunctioning dishwasher. Instead, I took your “rock cell phone” from the backyard and we chatted about bugs.
I didn’t have a chance to mail your Aunt’s birthday gift. Instead, I chased you around the front lawn after lunch, pretending to be a dinosaur as you let out shrieks of “Sharp Tooth!” (Perhaps the dinosaur game wasn’t the best idea after all).
I didn’t lie down for the nap that my mind and body desperately craved. Instead, I held you close as you drifted off during nap time, comforted by my presence, fearing the real Sharp Tooth lurking in your closet.
I didn’t get around to cleaning the bathrooms or the microwave (let’s be honest, that was never on my to-do list). I didn’t even tackle the mountain of photos accumulating on my dresser – I didn’t sort through and organize those memories. However, I did create new ones with you.
I didn’t fit in a workout today, but I did manage to squeeze you tightly and felt your little arms wrap around me in return.
I didn’t bring in the groceries I had planned to pick up, leaving the refrigerator nearly empty. Instead, I carried you, and my heart feels full.
I didn’t even take a shower. But I did take a moment to observe as you meticulously stacked your blocks by color while singing “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat” (you just saw The Aristocats for the first time last night).
I took a moment to listen as you rambled about your minion toy, sharing your love for bananas, the color of your socks, and questioning why the kitty doesn’t wear socks or eat bananas. I took a moment to appreciate your smallness, your charm, your mischievous spirit, and your wild imagination.
I took a moment to grasp at the fleeting fragments of your childhood. Looking around our home – at the towering dishes by the sink, the heaps of laundry across the floor, the food splattered in the microwave, and the untouched to-do list on the whiteboard – I then turned my gaze to you. The smile on your face, the laughter in your eyes, and the vibrant energy radiating from your tiny self is what truly matters.
So, no, my dear: because of you, I didn’t accomplish anything today. But today, because of you, I did everything.
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Summary
Today was a testament to the joys of parenthood, where the to-do list took a backseat to creating precious memories. The day may not have gone as planned, but it was filled with laughter, love, and moments that truly matter.