By Timothy D. Naegele[1]

As you lay sleeping in your bed, the weight of today lifts from my shoulders.  The struggles of the day are quickly forgotten and I find myself looking at you in wonder.  Memorizing your face and the dimples in your fingers.  I want to rewind the day and tell you how good you did.

How proud I am of you.

I hope that I loved you enough today.

As I drive you to school, I catch a glimpse of your sweet face staring back at me in the rear view.  I replay the morning and find myself wondering.

Did I love you enough today?

Through the chaos of the morning.  Through brushing your teeth and washing your hands, using your big boy stool of course.  Through cereal for breakfast and poured coffee to go.  Through picking out your clothes for the day.  Backpacks and kisses goodbye.

Did I love you enough today?

Through the hustle of the evening.  Through dinner and bath time.  Playtime and books.  I wonder.  Did I give you enough of my undivided attention?  Did I snuggle you enough?  Hug you enough.  Kiss you enough.  Teach you enough.  Was I too hard on you?  Did I listen to your stories intently?  Did l tell you how smart you are?

Did I love you enough?

Because I want you to know; no, I need you to know that each and every day you are loved.  And I will spend every day this life gives me, showing you.  Reminding you.

Of your importance.

Of your worth.

Of your strength.

When I ask you, "Do you know how much mommy loves you?" and you reply, "As BIG as the sky," I hope you truly believe it.

I hope you feel it.

I hope it radiates within your soul.

I hope it carries you through even the darkest of days.
I hope no matter where this life takes you, you remember it.

Because I will ALWAYS be here.  Rooting for you. Lifting you up. Encouraging you. Through moments of achievement and watching you soar, to even the hardest of days. Through tears of frustration, tempers and new found independence. On the days you drive me crazy and the days that you defy everything I am trying to teach you.

I am here.

Beside you.

And when you stumble.  When you make mistakes.

I will be here.

Behind you - to catch you.

Loving you through it all.

I hope I loved you enough today, my baby.  Because you are and always will be, the greatest thing I have ever done.[2]

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© 2022, Timothy D. Naegele

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[1]  Timothy D. Naegele was counsel to the United States Senate's Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and chief of staff to Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal recipient and former U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass).  See, e.g., Timothy D. Naegele Resume-21-8-6  and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/accomplishments/   He has an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as two law degrees from the School of Law (Boalt Hall), University of California, Berkeley, and from Georgetown University.  He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon, where he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal (see, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commendation_Medal#Joint_Service).  Mr. Naegele is an Independent politically; and he is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Law, and Who's Who in Finance and Business. He has written extensively over the years (see, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/articles/ and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/articles/), and studied photography with Ansel Adams.  He can be contacted directly at tdnaegele.associates@gmail.com

[2]  This wonderful verse was brought to my attention by a lovely woman who used to work for me in Washington, D.C., and who is raising her young grandson.  When I read it on the day before Father's Day, I knew that it applied equally to mothers and fathers, and to anyone raising a young child.

It was written by Jennifer Thompson, and appears at her website and on her Facebook page.

See https://herviewfromhome.com/motherhood-did-i-love-you-enough-today/ and https://www.facebook.com/theywhineiwine2/posts/494295904436218

This is what each of us should ask, and know.  Did we do enough to express our unconditional love for our children, grandchildren and others whom we love?

Both of my parents gave me unconditional love, always.  And my children changed my life forever.  Hopefully they have always known that I have loved them unconditionally, and will do so forever.  Indeed, I feel my parents' presence, just as I feel the presence of God always.

See https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/05/12/what-and-where-is-god/ ("What And Where Is God?")

It is a never-ending chain.  Both of my parents received unconditional love from their parents.