The One Piece of Parenting Advice I Should Have Listened To

I admit that I am stubborn.

You know how when you’re pregnant, everyone wants to give you advice on how to raise your children—even on how to be pregnant?! Well, I simply smile and nod. I am polite enough about it. But I always take advice with a grain of salt. It seems one person’s advice always contradicts another person’s anyway! I’m someone who likes to forge the way as I go. 

However, there is one piece of parenting advice that I wish I would’ve listened to. I wish I would’ve truly taken it to heart and I’m hoping that by reading this you do:

Let them be little.

Let them be little.
Hold them when they cry no matter how old they are.

Let them be little.
Let them play just 5 more minutes before dinner.

Let them be little.
Read them one more bedtime story.

Let them be little.
Don’t compare their development to other children. Don’t rush them to their next milestone.

Let them be little.
Make that bowl of ice cream with sprinkles even though they didn’t finish their dinner.

Let them be little.
Let them sleep in your bed on a school night just because.

Let them be little.
Splash in the puddles after (or during!) the rain.

Let them be little.
Let them make a mess.

Let them be little.
They will learn to read when they are ready.

Let them be little.
A “B” on a test isn’t the end of the world.

Let them be little.
Don’t hover over every little thing that they do.

Let them be little.
Watch them. Love them. Smile.

Let them be little.