A pleasant and joyful new week to friends in the @ladiesofhive community, and of course, to the esteemed judge of the week, @merit.ahama. I am deeply grateful for this beautiful opportunity to pause, reflect, and actually share what now brings me the most delight.😊
I especially relate to prompt number one, which says:
Recently, my absolute favorite thing to do is spend uninterrupted time with my children—basking in their laughter, enjoying their silly jokes, amusing chatter, wild imaginations, and all the delightful "disturbances" that comes with having them around; the kind that only a mother can treasure. My son is full of stories and now takes pride in giving me all his juicy gossip from school—ranging from classmate crushes to boyish discoveries, plus all the innocence of childhood. He pours out every detail with excitement, and I finally had the time to listen, laugh, and ask questions; how hilarious it is when he sometimes answers off-topic.😂 My daughter, on the other hand, ever so affectionate, rolls around me like a clingy little kitten, never far from my side, her little arms wrapped around my neck with a sweetness that melts my heart, always needing to touch me or just be close to me—and honestly, I really don't mind at all.🤗
There's definitely something so special about their hands and feet— so full of life, yet still so fragile. The warmth of their soft touch fills me in ways I never imagined I needed.
When they curl up beside me or reach out for a cuddle, those small hands wrapped around mine bring an overwhelming sense of joy. Holding them reminds me of how precious these moments are. Their cuddles have become my safe space, where love flows without words, reminding me of how fast they are actually growing, how peaceful they appear when they are actually asleep, and how deeply I am needed, involved, and loved.
It wasn't always this way. There was a time when my work consumed nearly all my time and energy. I would return home completely exhausted. On many evenings, my children would already be asleep, and on others, when they tried to stay awake to wait for me, I would drift off in the middle of a conversation. I was physically present but emotionally absent—and that period broke something inside of me, slowly, until I finally resigned.
However, now, thanks to my work as a therapist in a school—though still demanding—I have finally found a better rhythm, especially with the school on vacation. I've been gifted with the privilege of time: the time to enjoy the simplicity of fun holiday moments, the time to be present, laugh fully, and create new memories with my children and husband that I once didn't have the space for.
Thank you once again, @merit.ahama, for providing this space for reflection and actually celebrating the things that really make life rich. It's been healing to look back and smile at how far I've come. May this week bring us all warmth, presence, and the courage to enjoy the people who matter most—especially the little ones with tiny feet, big hearts, cuddles, and endless love to give—they are my new favorite things.
This is my humble response to the LOH contest #247 of the @ladiesofhive community.
ALL THE IMAGES ARE MINE, EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST UPPER ONE, WHICH WAS PARTLY GENERATED USING META AI AND EDITED WITH MY ORIGINAL PICTURE IN CANVA.
