Hearts

I love this story sent in my weekly e-mail from MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers)

Hearts by Jolita Peterson, Council Coordinator

"Feel my heartbeat, Mommy!" My five-year-old daughter grabs my hand and places it upon her chest so I can feel the rapid thump-thump beneath my fingers. She is fascinated by hearts - both kinds. She loves to get out her Human Body book and look at pictures of the human heart with its valves and chambers. She enjoys my (rather limited) explanation of how the blood gets pumped throughout the body. She also adores the I-love-you kind of hearts and practices drawing them at any opportunity. I was out of town for a few days recently and returned to find all the mirrors in the house covered with "I w U" written with dry erase marker in kindergarten scrawl.Someday she will ask me about the connection between the heart organ and the heart symbol for love. Someday I will tell her that my love for her is as much a part of me as the blood that flows through my veins. That I began to love her from the moment that my blood began to nurture her body. Someday she will know that I love her so much that I would shed my lifeblood in order to protect her. That love and life are intricately connected in a way that goes beyond vital organs and written symbols. Someday she will understand how very much I love her. Until then, I'm content to demonstrate my love in ways she can understand.I put love notes in her lunch box, cuddle her when she is sick or sad, and kiss and hug her every chance I get. I do my best to listen to her when she has a story to tell (even long and boring ones) and to be patient when she is grouchy (I don't always succeed at that one!). Someday, (all too soon!) these opportunities will be gone and I'll be looking for other ways to show her my love - from my heart to hers.