Proud Mom

At today’s gymnastics competition, Pa had the joy of standing on the highest step of the winners’ podium.

Holding a medal in her small palm and her very first trophy,
she leans into me and presses close:

“Mom, you know—I tried harder today than I even can. Do you know why?”

“Because you really wanted the medal?” I smile.

“Noooo,” she wrinkles her nose and adds:
“Because I knew you were watching me from the balcony.”

We, moms—
our whole lives, every day, every minute, every second—
we try for them.

And when you hear that they tried “more than they could”
for us—
it feels so sweet. So tender.

V.