"She is the something special"

I just finished reading The Thursday Murder Club. It isn't my usual type of book, but one day I was at the BJ's Warehouse store browsing the books, and another customer gave it an unsolicited recommendation. So I said, why not try something new.

The book itself isn't that important or noteworthy, but it contained a line that really resonated with me as a parent of kids who are growing up too fast. Joyce, an older woman in a senior living community, is writing about her adult daughter Joanna, who is visiting from out of town:

“Joanna brought a bottle of wine with her. There is something special about it, but I’m afraid I’ve forgotten what it is. One day she will realize that she is the something special.”

This line just struck me because I think kids don't realize how thoroughly and desperately their parents love them. I can put myself in Joyce's shoes, and think how happy it will make me to get a visit from Reed or Amy, and how they will probably not have any idea how much their visit means. I know I never got to this grown-up realization with my own Mom, but now I can think about how much she loved me and the feelings she went through as I grew up into my own life, doing some things right and some things wrong. How much it all must have affected her. How I wish she were still here. It also makes me wish I'd spent more time with my grandparents, which is a regret that I now cannot fix.

Anyway, it was just a silly little book but this stayed with me. I hope we get lots of visits from our kids when they're all grown up, and that they always know how loved they are. 

It reminds me of the song "When You're My Age" by Lori McKenna, which makes me cry every single time...

When you're my age

I hope the world is kinder

Than it seems to be right now

And I hope the front page isn't just a reminder

Of how we keep letting each other down

When I was your age

Things didn't seem to be this hard

Riding bikes out on the street

Playing tag in the back yard

You'll outgrow your shoes

You'll outgrow your bed

You'll outgrow this house

Just don't forget

When you're all grown up

But you don't feel that way

You're still gonna be my baby

Even when you're my age

When you're my age

You'll still be full of questions

That I wish I had the answers to right now

And those dark times might make you second guess it

But I bet love will still be making the world go round

When I was your age

I didn't worry like I think you do

Back then innocence was something

You could hold onto

You'll outgrow your shoes

You'll outgrow your bed

You'll outgrow this house

Just don't forget

When you're all grown up

But you don't feel that way

You're still gonna be my baby

Even when you're my age

When you have kids someday

I hope you teach them the Lord's Prayer

Before they go to bed at night

Like my daddy did for me and his mother before him

Well something about it just keeps you right

And I hope you don't work too much overtime

So you can be right there beside them

When they close their little eyes

'Cause they'll outgrow their shoes

They'll outgrow their beds

They'll outgrow that house

And you can't stop it

Life will line your face

Time will turn the page

But they're still gonna be your babies

Just like you're still gonna be my baby

Even when you're my age

Even when you're my age