Parenting is a rollercoaster of emotions, full of lows and highs you never quite expect. Children grow up in the blink of an eye — one minute you’re carrying them up the stairs to bed, the next they’re telling you they can manage on their own. The best advice any parent can give is to enjoy every moment along the way: the first hug, the first word, the first steps. These are the touching parenting moments that stay with us long after our kids have grown.
The little moments that catch you off guard
As a parent of two teens, it’s hard to believe how fast the years have gone. Looking back, some of the standard milestones stand out clearly:
- the first sloppy kiss
- the first time they called out for Mum
- the first few wobbly steps
- the first day of primary school
- the first day of secondary school
But it’s often the smaller, unplanned moments that catch you off guard — your youngest proudly handing over a piece of art they made at the kitchen table, or your eldest telling you about some minor school drama, and suddenly realising how close they are to leaving home. Those are the moments that sneak up on you and leave you reaching for the tissues.
It all goes by so quickly. That’s exactly why this poem, written by Kim Uliana of The Pinterested Parent, resonates with so many parents — it captures, in just a few lines, the feeling of wanting to hold onto every bedtime a little longer.
Say Yes to One More Book
Say yes to one more book,
one more hug,
one more kiss goodnight,
tuck them in and snuggle them tight.
One day you will tuck them in and
they’ll be grown.
They will smile and tell you
they can do it on their own.
Poem by Kim Uliana, The Pinterested Parent.
Why it’s worth saying yes
Bedtime routines can feel endless when you’re in the middle of them — another book, another glass of water, another “five more minutes.” But this poem is a gentle reminder that these repeated requests are also repeated invitations to be close to your child while they still want you there. There will come a day when they genuinely don’t need you to tuck them in, and most parents agree: it comes far sooner than you think.
You might also enjoy reading The Last Time Poem and If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again — two more reflective reads on the fleeting nature of childhood.
Save this for later
If this poem struck a chord, save it somewhere you’ll see it again — bookmark this page or share it with another parent who might need the reminder tonight.
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What have been your touching parenting moments? We’d love to hear about them in the comments below.
