Driving my little guy to school this morning, I had one of those moments when you realize the song lyrics are about to be inappropriate for little ears and quickly flipped on a playlist that would be safe. Since my 10-year-old creates amazing playlists for her DJing business, I selected
I dropped off the little man at preschool, got in the car and set about thinking through the days to-do list. Suddenly a song came on that was so fully out of character for my daughter’s selections that it made me pause… My connoisseur who usually selects anything from Imagine Dragons to The Who had included an early Taylor Swift song with a sweet melody and almost lullaby quality. It’s a song that I love, Never Grow Up, and I listened closely to try and find the appeal for my daughter…
As I heard the lyrics, I realized that this song clearly spoke to her heart. I’ve always been one to get lost in the lyrics of a song but I my daughter generally focuses more on the music…
Well, as I listened, I could hear my daughter in every single word… I will include all the lyrics below, but one section particularly hit home:
"Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone"
The night before her 6th birthday, this oldest child of mine cried and cried… as she calmed down, I asked what was causing all the tears. Her reply:
“Mommy, I don’t want to grow up. I want to stay little and be with you always. I just want to be a kid forever.”
I remember so clearly the swell of my heart to think that she loved everything about that moment so much that she didn’t want any of it change. I also remember thinking how poignant her thoughts were for a 6 year old – so wise beyond her years to realize the beauty of this stage of her life.
That theme has been repeated from her to us over and over throughout the years. I remind her constantly how each day together is better and better and that no one wants her to treasure and enjoy her childhood as much as I do…
But I am also stuck by how quickly our children grow up in the world… How fleeting those moments of pure innocence when all can be healed with a kiss from mommy… How stark the contrast between the world of early childhood and preteen knowledge… And how beautiful a gift that she sees these realities and yearns for the world to be that of childhood…
And I feel so blessed to have the reminders from her to keep them little as long as I can… to soak in every last ounce of innocence… to cherish every little cuddle… and to strengthen our bond at every chance I get…
Lyrics below… but don’t forget to keep yours little…
XOXO
Never Grow Up |Taylor Swift
Your little hands wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in and turn on your favorite nightlight
To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have honey
If you could stay like that
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
No one will desert you
Just try to never grow up
Never grow up
You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off
At fourteen, there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out
Someday and call your own shots
But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older too
And don't lose the way that you dance around in your p.j.s getting ready for school
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
And no one's ever burned you
Nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to
Just try to never grow up
Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone
So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder than I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my nightlight on
Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up
Oh I don't wanna grow up
Wish I'd never grown up
Could still be little
Oh I don't wanna grow up
Wish I'd never grown up
It could still be simple
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
And even though you want to
Please try to never grow up
Don't you ever grow up
Just never grow up
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