Sometimes We Forget

Dear Kids,

I'm sorry that sometimes the adults you're with, myself included, forget that you are just kids.
We've somehow let the world get the best of us and instead of growing old gracefully. . .we grow old and forget.
We forget what it's like to feel the mud in between your fingers as you make mud pies.
We forget the feeling of invincibility as you look out from the tree house so close to the sky.
We forget insects and little critters are both interesting and important.
We forget that building tents  to hideaway in means an empty linen closet and help refolding. 
We forget the joy you feel when you're playing house and acting like the grown up.
We forget the loud screams and yells that deafen will soon be met with silence.
We forget the mess you leave in your wake will one day be gone for good.

And forget about it.  Shrug.
Our loss.
Our mistake.
Our relationship that could have been strengthened and love filled and joyous becomes just another missed opportunity: part of  the reason we've allowed ourselves to forget anyways.

I'm sorry for the times I've made you feel badly about just being kids.
Run further, laugh louder, play harder, play messier, imagine wildly, gulp in gratitude for this gift that is your youth!
And the rest of us will just have to deal with it.

You're only young once, love bugs. Dig in.  Dig in deep!