Billy Dean Reminds Us To Cherish Every Moment With ‘Let Them Be Little’

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If you’re a parent who is dropping your kids off at kindergarten or college for the first time, a worn out mom who wonders if she’ll ever sleep again, or a dad who wishes for more time with his kids…this is for you. 

In 2004, Billy Dean released a song that would touch the hearts of parents everywhere. “Let Them Be Little” was co-written by Richie McDonald, frontman for country super group Lonestar. The powerful ballad takes the listener through the emotions of holding your baby for the first time, watching them grow up then letting them go. 

Written and dedicated to his daughter Hannah and son Eli, Dean’s pleads with his fellow parents to cherish every moment they have with their children. 

“I find myself struggling with that very same thing that most people struggle with, trying to grow them up too fast,” Dean told CMT in 2005. “The song has actually helped me to slow down and let them be kids. It’s something I struggle with every day: how to balance the innocence, how to balance the patience. I try to let them stay little as long as they can.”

Let them be little, cause they’re only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love, everyday.
Let em cry, let em giggle, let them sleep in the middle.
Oh just let them be little.

It’s no surprise that “Let Them Be Little” continues to resonate with parents even now, more than a decade after its release. Listen to the powerful song in the video below then share with every mom and dad you know.