She watched her mum preen and pick out a dress,
putting her hair up, looking her best.
“Why can’t I come with you? I don’t want my bed.
I want to be an adult right now!” she said.

Her mum replied softly, “My dear heart, don’t fret.
You have plenty of life ahead of you yet.
There are fun things to do — things I’ve not done before!
By the time you’ve grown up, you’ll have all this and more.

So be there with each day — it’s a gift from above.
Don’t wish away life. Enjoy it, my love.”

She did well at school, making many new friends
as that rare type of person on whom all can depend.
She learned about nature, played tennis and cricket,
wrote stories and poems, read Rowling and Snicket.

Time passed. She grew bigger. She wanted to be
a vet, a musician, a keeper of bees.
She crammed so much stuff in, she rushed through every day,
and standing by was her mother, ready to say,

“Be there with each day — it’s a gift from above.
Don’t wish away life. Enjoy it, my love.”

Studies ended. She travelled. She spent her hours
working hard, living fast, rarely smelling the flowers.
And when she returned home to her mum and dad,
she could see in their wrinkles the fun that they’d had.

She felt she had much more to do on her own
so she polished her boots and leapt to the unknown.
She moved out, moved abroad, one day had her own daughter,
who made her take stock of what her mum had taught her:

“Be there with each day — it’s a gift from above.
Don’t wish away life. Enjoy it, my love.”

The day finally came when her daughter was grown.
She watched her hurry and stress, willing time to slow down,
and she passed on the wisdom she’d learnt, “My dear child,
see the beauty around you. Be courageous and kind.

For a full, happy life comes in glimpses of now.
If you look ever forward, thinking maybe somehow,
you’ll miss the wonders in front of your face.
Take in this moment. Be present. Don’t race.

And be there with each day — it’s a gift from above.
Don’t wish away life. Embrace it, my love.”

I wrote this poem with my littlest one in mind. She turns six today.