"Mommy, Push Me"

 I remember hearing that voice so clearly ... 

"Mommy push me!"

My son would jump on the swing and ask me to push him.  My mind would go to thinking about all of the things I had to get done around the house or even pulling weeds while being outside.  The house has always been in need of my attention but my kids needed me too.  Even when I wanted to focus on getting things done I knew my son's need for a push on the swing was not going to last forever.  He would grow up and not have any interest in playing anymore.  So, I let the housework wait and I pushed him.  I'd listen to his sweet voice sing songs or ask me questions about life.  I would watch as that sweet little innocence moved back and forth stretching his legs into the air.  

"Make me go higher!"

Laughter would always follow.  

I looked over at the swing set the other day and began to cry as I thought of those sweet days that had quickly gone by.  The swing sits empty.  No longer being used.  No longer does anyone ask me to push them.  The housework remains the same.  The laundry, the dishes, the dust.  The weeds are continuously sprouting and the grass keeps on growing - and my kids, well, they grew too.  

Mothers of little ones, let me be the one to assure you that all of the errands and housework can wait.  Your little ones can't, because they don't stay little forever and all that is left of those precious moments is the memory.