Never Grow Up

Today my daughter started her first day of 8th grade. Growing up so quickly, becoming this bright little woman still within the body of a child, it sometimes scares me how quickly the past 13 years have gone by, and the day when she will no longer be sleeping in my house where I can see her daily...

Today, I began to see life in days being counted down to leaving home rather than the days I used to count how old she was..."She is 14 days old," "She is 13 months," "She is 2."  Gone are the days where I can have her sit in the cart as we go to the grocery store, and it has been too long since she was that infant who could not sleep without doing so on my chest, listening to the beat of my heart. 

And for all the moments she has given me grief - the joy she has given me has been so much greater in return.  She wants to grow up so quickly, wants to be as big as she can.  And sometimes I wish she would never grow up at all, but remain that cute little 2 year old who's smile could melt your heart.  Sometimes I wish she could remain that little 5 year old coming home from school, excited about what she has learned.

Your little hand's wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light
To you everything's funny, you got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart
And no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off
At 14 there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots
But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older too
And don't lose the way that you dance around in your pj's getting ready for school

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
No one's ever burned you, nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to, just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder that I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on

Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up

Oh I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
I could still be little
Oh I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
It could still be simple
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
Won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
And even though you want to, please try to never grow up
Oh, don't you ever grow up
Oh, never grow up, just never grow up