I shouldn’t have to tell you again how much I love you, so this time I won’t.

But I will pull your older brother aside and tell him to keep a close eye on you at school.

I will take away texting if it helps you study. I will take everything away if it helps you study.

I will put my hand on your chest tonight, while you’re sleeping, to make sure you’re still breathing.

I will watch your practice from the sidelines as you get tackled harder than you’ve ever been tackled before.

I will stay on the sidelines this time and let you work it out on your own, even when I can tell you’re crying underneath your helmet.

I will tell you to put on your seatbelt. Again.

I will plunge the toilet. Again.

I will tell you to wash your hands. I will tell you to brush your teeth. I will tell you to not run and fight with your siblings while the toothbrush is still in your mouth.

I will leave the door open a crack when you go down into the basement with your girlfriend.

I will never let your sister go in the basement with a boyfriend.

I shouldn’t have to tell you again how much I love you, so this time I won’t.

But I will tell you to get a job the next time (and every time) you ask for money.

I will get up in the morning and go to my job again.

I will take better care of myself.

I will assign you chores and you will do them or you will not eat.

I will let you have a sleepover with all of your hungry friends. Again.

I will play Old Maid with you and make sure I end up with the Old Maid. Again.

I will be the audience for your made-up dance routines and watch as you twirl everything in the house that resembles a baton.

I will make you look your coach or your teacher in the eye when you’re being disciplined. I will make sure you know that I know that most of the time you deserve it.

I will grab you when you walk by and I’ll hold you close into my chest and I’ll breathe in the smell of your hair on the top of your head while you’re still shorter than me, just one more time, while I still can.

I will pray that you end up a lot more like Jesus and a lot less like some Christians.

I shouldn’t have to tell you again how much I love you, so this time I won’t.

But I will remind you again and again that we’re a family and we always stick together.

I will allow you to fiercely protect your siblings.

I will let you fight your siblings periodically so that you actually know how to fiercely protect your siblings.

I will turn off the TV and take away your cell phones and anything else electronic and we will play Scrabble.

I will take you to a noun called church, but teach you how to be verb called Church.

I will only allow two kids on the trampoline at one time. I will now dismantle the trampoline because you're not listening to me.

I will tell your mother how much I love her and then I’ll kiss and hug her in front of you again and again and again.

I will drive you to school again.

I will drive you to practice again.

I will drive you to get your favorite sub again.

I will not pick up after you again.

I will try hard to remember again what life was like when I was your age.

I shouldn’t have to tell you how much I love you, but just this last time I will. Again.

2 Comments:

 Erin Wilson said...

Some very fortunate kids, you've got there...

Love is a verb too. :)

09 November, 2010  

 Becky said...

yup agree w/Erin....glad whenever you write here.

10 November, 2010  

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