I will always say, “I love you.”

When she wakes up in the morning.

When I drop her off at school.

When I tuck her in at night.

I will always say, “I love you.”

When she’s celebrating a really big win.

When she’s made another masterpiece with construction paper and scotch tape.

When she’s conquered that skill or accomplished that goal.

I will always say, “I love you.”

When she lost the game.

When she still can’t get that dance move down.

When the math problem is frustrating or the sentence is too hard to sound out.

I will always say, “I love you.”

When she’s in a bad mood.

When she’s throwing yet another tantrum.

When she’s getting on my very last nerve.

I will always say, “I love you.”

When she’s smiling and laughing.

When both the emotions and the tears are big.

When there’s nothing going on at all.

I will always say, “I love you.”

No matter where we are and no matter what we’re doing, I need her to know without a shadow of a doubt that her mama is proud of her, in awe of her, and absolutely in love with her.

I will always say, “I love you.” And I know I’ll never regret it.

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