Playing Mommy

A love letter to my daughter

Little girls long to be just like their mommies
Hushing and rocking and feeding their dollies
Mending their boo-boos, kissing their heads
Tucking their tiny ones safely in bed

Little girls desire to help in the house
Dusting and mopping and tossing out trash
Folding the napkins, setting out plates
Donning an apron to learn how to bake

Little girls yearn to be seen as big
Applying perfume and makeup and princess rings
Carrying a purse, modeling a new dress 
Watching mommy’s eyes to see if she’s impressed

Little girls need a safe place to rest
From feelings and failures and embarrassing missteps
Seeking gentle hands, a familiar face
Breathing at ease in her steadfast embrace 

Little girls dream up beautiful lives
Of sunshines and rainbows and becoming wives
Visiting colleges, planning careers
Welcoming children with the happiest of tears

Little girls forget that their own mothers cried
Through labors and miscarriages and sleepless nights
Pushing past pain, confronting worst fears
Praying for God to always remain near

Little girls slowly turn into their mommies
Chasing after sons and daughters with dollies
Brewing tea in the kettle, pulling out an extra seat
Swapping stories with Grandma while kids play at their feet

This post is part of a blog hop with Exhale—an online community of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series "Love."