Lia loves reading books. When she’s sad or upset, I distract her by saying “let’s go pick a book out.” It’s like offering her candy. She instantly snuffles the tears, and a smile comes across her face.

I love reading books with her. Recently, she has wanted to turn the pages herself, and reading went from telling the story to just reading the words on whatever page Lia picked.

Tonight, however, I got “kicked out” of story time. (I wasn’t flipping the pages properly.) She wanted to “I do it.”

I think it’s important for kids to be independent, so I try to support them when they want to do things themselves, but this moment definitely hurt.

The book she is reading is called “Someday.” It’s one of those books you pick out when you’re pregnant (it has all of those beautiful motherly images inside) and imagine reading to your kids at night – before you realize only board books are suitable in their tiny hands until they’re at least 2 or 3, and if it doesn’t rhyme or have funny characters, forget it; they won’t even look at it.

We read it together a few nights ago and one page stood out to me, “someday your eyes will be filled with a joy so deep that they shine.” Lia has this shine in her eyes when she’s singing or dancing that just lights up my world. It fills me with so much joy to see her so happy. It’s a joy I never thought imaginable, a joy that only my children give me. The light I see in their eyes is reflected in mine. I think any mom can certainly relate. I wish nothing more for my children than to also have that joy. Now, and forever.

It’s crazy how milestones like this are like a reality check for you, bringing you back to earth about how quickly your babies grow up.

Hold on to your son my little Lia bird. I can hear it even when you are silent, I can see it even when you sleep.