Membership in "the littles" has varied through the years. The original "littles" got big a long time ago.  For quite a while now it has been understood to be the youngest three.  Who am I kidding?  None of them is very little anymore and the last "little" boy has quietly slipped into his teens.  His sister is still taking birthday cake requests.  Nowadays those involve surfing through Pinterest for ideas to send to her.  The one they agreed upon – a chocolate mint – was eaten after indoor soccer practice.  

He is busy now.  A gifted club soccer team member, a distance runner, a math whiz.  He still sings to himself.  All  Day  Long.  Lucky for me he is pretty savvy about oldies lyrics.  

The teen years are no joke.  I don't necessarily dread them but I do approach them with a healthy trepidation these days.  It's a big world and he will need more than us to navigate it. With that in mind I pray: 

Holy Mother Mary,
Who by virtue of your divine motherhood,
Hast become mother of us all
I place the charge which God has given me,
under your loving protection.
Be a Protecting Mother to my children.
Guard their bodies and keep them
in health and strength.
Guard their minds and keep their thoughts ever holy
in the sight of their Creator and God.
Guard their hearts and keep them pure and strong
and happy in the love of God.
Guard always their souls and ever preserve in them,
faithfully, the glorious image of God
whom they received in Holy Baptism.
Always Mother, protect them and keep them
under your Mothering care.
Supply in your all-wise motherhood,
for my poor human deficiencies
and protect them from all evil.
Amen.

Queen of the Most Holy Family,
Pray for us.

– The Mother's Manual