Let's Talk Little Lady

Today she is five. She won't always be. In the not so distant future she will be all grown up.

In this moment she wants to talk to me about everything. She might not always want to.

Right now her favorite topics are princesses and ponies. They won't always be.

Eventually my little girl will grow up. She will outgrow the things she currently loves.

In the now, she knows she is beautiful. She has no interest in boys. She is too innocent to see the evil and scary things of this world. That won't always be the scenario. (Hopefully she will always know she is beautiful). 

Eventually, as these things change, I want to be the one to lift her up. I want to be the one teaching her. I want to point her toward God and what He says and away from what the world says. If I am not present today, that may not be an option tomorrow.

It is so easy to get caught up in our days. To shush a talkative child. To tell them to wait a minute...and forget to return to the conversation. Sometimes a child's topics seem so trivial to an adult. 

What we do with our children now is shaping and training them for the future. 

When the little things of their day are confirmed to be small by the reactions and tones of our voice, they may not share about tomorrow.

When their biggest secrets are shared because we didn't hold them as sacred, they may not tell us the next one.

The conversations and relationship I am building with my daughter (and my sons for that matter) today are a stepping stone to the relationship we will have for the rest of her life.

If we want our children to be open to communicate with us as they age, we need to start now. When they speak, we need to give our full attention. Turn off the computer and put down the phone.

Snuggle up in their beds and talk about their days, their dreams, their wishes, their secrets. Talk about everything.

Over the years our conversations will drastically change but they will still exist. 

Today she is five but she won't always be.