The family was in the car heading home after church when I told them that I had invited another family over for dinner. The Hot Man explained to the Fab5, “Your mother has made a new friend, isn’t that nice?”
Right away the older lot started laughing. Jeering. Teasing me. “Awww mum’s made a friend. Finally after 10 months of living in New Zealand, she’s got a friend. Poor mum!” I told them all to shut up be quiet or else they’d be hitch-hiking their way home. “Yes, I have made a new friend and I know I dont have many (“Ha, you mean any!” scoffed a disbelieving child) but there’s no need to be so derisive.” But they were not so easily silenced and the onslaught of mockery continued. Until, the Bella Beast put a stop to it all by bursting in to tears. And when the Beast cries – we all listen. (Spoilt child alert.)
“What’s the matter darling?” I asked.
She was sobbing as if her heart was broken. “I’m your friend mama. Nobody else. I’m your bestest friend.You and me mama – we friends forever.”
Now this not a post about how lame I am at making friends in real life. No. This is a post about how love – huge, gut-wrenching, breathtaking love – can take you by surprise. It’s about how I felt – and now I’m crying as I write this – as Bella uttered those words, as she looked at me, choking back tears. My very last baby. I get tired of being a mum (a lot.) Maybe because I started being a mum when I was a very young 22. I look forward to when they’re all self-sufficient and doing fabulous things…somewhere else in this fabulous world. I get impatient because dammnit, I’ve got things to do! And they’re getting in my way.
But here now is the very last child that will ever, ever want me to be the center of her universe. The last child that will want my hugs and kisses in public. The final, last child that will love me with that overwhelming, crushing kind of love – the kind of love that hasn’t had time to get tarnished by the realization that no, your mother isn’t perfect. Isn’t the coolest woman on the planet. Doesnt know everything. Makes tons of mother mistakes. And can’t make donuts as good as Dunkin.
No. This is my last baby. Reminding me that she is “My bestest friend forever.” Reminding me that being a mother is a breathtaking, gut-wrenching and blessed thing to be.
Thank you Bella. You’ll be my bestest friend forever too. (Even when you fall in love and run away into the sunset with some dreadfully unsuitable boy.)
Lani Wendt Young 
That's the sweetest thing! Like, very!! xx
Nawwwww, you're making me CLUCKY…even moreso thatn usual !!!
awwww, love it because thats how my Gracie (8 yrs) feels about me….but I am a realist and know that when she hits puberty she will probably be planning her escape from me rather than be my BFF….but I will enjoy her while it lasts 🙂
I love moments like those. Bella is so precious.
That's the loveliest thing I've heard a Mother say and I know a lot of lovely mums ;)Your last baby..enjoy her ! 🙂
BB girl is just too adorable. Kids just have this way of reminding you that nobody loves you more than they do.
Way too adorable!!
That's beautiful, I had no idea how much I can love someone until I had one of those moments.
From the mouths of babes … I teared up myself reading this! (:
Awww, this post is ah-dorable!! I'm the same way, part of me can't wait til they grow up, but then part of me never wants them to grow up!! Mine are 17 and 15 and now I want them to stop growing up, because they will soon be leaving and I'm not ready for that!!!
You capture it perfectly ladies – I need to enjoy her ( and the rest of the fab5) while it lasts…because as Jillian notes "soon they will be leaving and Im not ready for that!" It was a great time for Bella to remind me too because school holidays just started and I tend to get a LIIIIIIITTTTTTTTLE bit irritated with them all when theyre home 24/7 for 2 weeks straight!
This is the type of thing I imagine my 7 month old is thinking (when he is actually probably thinking FEED ME)!!! LOL
Awww… My son used to feel that way about me. Lol! That's so adorable! Makes me want another one just so I can feel that special to someone…even if it's temporary. Lol. Aww…treasure it Lani because you know how fast they grow up! 🙂
TS Your 7month old is probably thinking of vastly intellectual mysteries and pondering deep thoughts reminiscent of Einstein's theory of relativity. In between thinking about how much he loves you! After all that – comes food. Truly. LOLAitah – dont i know it. My oldest son used to say to me "Im never going to grow big mum, I want to be your little boy forever and stay with you forever." Ha. He doesnt say that now! (Funny thing is my daughter never said that. She was always telling me "I cant wait to grow big and be a princess and go live in a castle.")
Ahhh, darn you Lani! You made me tear up, too (in a good way, of course). Your Bella sounds like a keeper 🙂 Kids really do say the sweetest things sometimes. It's been a while since I've visited, but I gotta tell you, your book looks great! I actually just read a review over on Lan's blog about Telesa. The cover's fantastic and eye-catching, the summary drew me in, Daniel's quote that Lan included was perfection. *Sigh* I really hope I win that giveaway ;)Hope you're doing well,Ninja Girl
Hi Ninja girl – so cool to have you visit Sleepess. Thank you for the feedback on the Telesa book.
Awww! Thats so cute I almost cried…only I didnt…because I am on the computer around my family and they'd be concerned!