Childhoodtake2!

Every Friday we unite for five minutes to write on one word. Only five minutes, that's all we get, that's all we have. And then, right where we are, no edits or second-thoughts, we publish those words. This week, we write on want.
Go.

There are the basic wants of parenting like
I want you to listen
I want you to count to 10 and try again
I want you to clean up after yourself
I want you to make good choices at school, as siblings, as people.

And then there are the big ones
the ones that make me stay up all night wondering if I am doing it right,
any of it.
The wants like
I want you to just be happy, in your life, with your life.
I want you to be able to sit in silence and reflect on your day, your words, how to do it differently.
I want you to have your heart broken so you know you can come out the other side stronger.
I want you to realize that I am your home, your comfort, I am safety for you.
I want you to realize that I have your back, but you will not need me soon, but I still want you to want me in your life anyway.
I want you to love your partner, your person, so much that it bursts out of your face.
I want you to love you.
I want you to show the world how strong you are, how amazing.
I want you to be a good person, and a good friend, and have a really good heart.
I want you to always try your best, always give it your all.
I want you to always show love and kindness, I want it to drive your decisions in life.
I want you to crumble when you need to, for as long as you need to, and when you have healed, I want you to show the world your power.
I want you to know love and loss and realize that it only lasts for good one time. Everything else is lessons learned.
I want you to know that we didn't just love you, we loved this time with you, even the fog.
I want you to know that we continue to try our very best with you
I want you to know that we have made so many mistakes and we are so sorry, but we know that love is our guide and I want you to know that too. Love needs to be your guide.
I want you to know that your childhood is one of the most important things in my life.

I want you to know that you changed it all, in one moment, you changed it all.

Stop.