The Sweet Spot

I’ve been doing this 21-day positivity mindset challenge for nearly two weeks based on this TED talk by happiness expert, Shawn Achor. Two of the five daily things you do is write down three things you’re grateful for and journal about a positive experience you’ve had within the last 24 hours (which has led to me journaling about other things too…something I’ve definitely been missing). In the short time I’ve been doing this, I noticed a pattern. A lot of my gratefulness and positive experiences come from Mackenzie, while at the same time, some of what I’m journaling about is how much she tests my patience. And then it dawned on me…we are in a sweet spot. 

Merriam-Webster defines a sweet spot as “an ideal or most favorable location, level, area or combination of factors for a particular activity or purpose.”

Mackenzie at 3 ½ is a sweet spot for me as a mom. She is old enough to do many things independently like put on her shoes, play with toys, go potty (most of the time), eat, drink, etc. And she wants to do more things “by myself” which I welcome (unless we’re in a hurry or it’s unsafe 🙂 ).

But, she is also young enough to still need and better yet, WANT, me… to play with, share exciting new experiences with (“Mom, watch me!”, “Mom, I did it!”), snuggle with (she’s still small enough to curl up in my lap), read with, hold hands with, hug and kiss constantly. All things I hope and pray she continues as she gets older. In reality, I know her level of needing and wanting me is going to change.

I know the want to play with me will become the want to play more with her friends.

I know the want to share exciting new experiences will become the want to share with friends.

I know the want to snuggle will become the want to snuggle only when she’s sick or hurt.

I know the want to read with will become the want to read much longer books by herself.

I know the want to hold hands with will become reserved only for reassurance.

I know the constant hugs and kisses will become fewer and far between.

I’m really praying that I’ve got a long ways to go before any of these changes happen.

For now, I am going to savor every minute of this sweet spot…in all its challenges and beauty.