Help me find my tender heart that I lost along the way.

Take me back to where it all began.

In that hospital room.

In that hospital gown.

With you in my arms.

Help me find my tender heart that I lost along the way.

Take me back to those first few days.

When all you needed was me.

When all I wanted was you.

(And a few breaks when you slept).

Help me find my tender heart that I lost along the way.

Take me back to those early years.

When you learned to sit and crawl and stand and walk.

When you started to talk and eat.

When you were my very content lap partner, whether I was talking or eating.

Help me find my tender heart that I lost along the way.

Take me back to those toddler years.

(omg, did I really just wish that?)

When you would wreak beautiful havoc out in public and all over our home.

When I was the visible hottest mess of the hot messes end result of all that havoc that you wreaked both in and outside of our home.

Help me find my tender heart that I lost along the way.

Take me back to those elementary years.

The years of you still looking up to me and liking me.

The years of you starting to come into your own, but still very much knowing you are forever mine.

Help me find my tender heart that I lost along the way.

Because something tells me,

when middle school comes,

I'm gonna need it.