Her fingers locked around my neck, I breathed in the smell of wet hair and time stood still.

Preparing for the beginning of a new week, I laid down in my daughter's bedroom to discuss everything she has going on. Varisty cheerleading try-outs start this afternoon. Only five spots available for several girls hoping to make it. I always enjoy the process of tucking my kids in bed, when my daughter was small, I would read a book, rock her, sing, and sometimes sit beside her bed until she fell asleep. I did all the things the parent books said not to do. I remember when we moved into our new house and she would call out at night for me if she woke up and was afraid. I would awaken, "momma, momma, please come here." I would stumble through the house until I found the voice calling from her bed, there, I would either crawl in bed with her or she followed me to ours. We progressed to her standing beside our bed stating, "I can't go back to sleep, can I sleep in here?" Another big do not do in the parenting book. As we covered her details of stress, expectations, worries and "what can I do as her mother" stuff, I planted a kiss on her cheek and started to walk out of her room, when, my heart tugged...."can I have a hug? Wrap your arms around my neck just like you used to when you were younger." She chuckled, "mom you're so sentimental, of course." As I felt her wet hair against my cheek, smelled her fresh skin from her bath, I realized she gave me what I needed to start my week out right. She didn't wake up last night and call out for me. She didn't come stand beside our bed asking me to scoot over. She fell asleep in her purple and gold dream room with her alarm set to wake her this morning. No, I did not follow the parenting books on sleep habits for the toddler. I followed my heart, I followed my little girl's voice in the dark, and I would do it all again. I follow her voice every night as I listen while she is growing up.