A baby's parting gift
Day by day, the hours have quietly stolen my baby away.
"They grow up so fast" means nothing until you experience it for yourself. For me, it's a feeling of loss. "They grow up so fast" says nothing of loss, of the fragments of memories your sleep-deprived new-mom brain managed to store away for safekeeping on a day like this:
Walking away from me to explore things infinitely more interesting than I am.
"They grow up so fast" implies change and speed, but not the passing of time. It doesn't warn, "Watch, listen and savor." It barely implies that every time the sun rises, "You will never be this small again."
For Fly, though, time doesn't look back; it looks only at the here and now.
What can I do today that I couldn't do yesterday?
Time means only what is happening in the present moment, and so there is no fear.
For Fly, living in the present means living in an extreme -- extreme unhappiness, or extreme joy.
Living in the present is a gift Fly has given to me.
And I am eight years old again.
Time is linear, but now I know it is also fluid.
"They grow up so fast" means nothing until you experience it for yourself. For me, it's a feeling of loss. "They grow up so fast" says nothing of loss, of the fragments of memories your sleep-deprived new-mom brain managed to store away for safekeeping on a day like this:
Walking away from me to explore things infinitely more interesting than I am.
"They grow up so fast" implies change and speed, but not the passing of time. It doesn't warn, "Watch, listen and savor." It barely implies that every time the sun rises, "You will never be this small again."
For Fly, though, time doesn't look back; it looks only at the here and now.
What can I do today that I couldn't do yesterday?
Time means only what is happening in the present moment, and so there is no fear.
For Fly, living in the present means living in an extreme -- extreme unhappiness, or extreme joy.
Living in the present is a gift Fly has given to me.
And I am eight years old again.
Time is linear, but now I know it is also fluid.
Labels: everyday life, Fly, motherhood
posted by Damselfly at 10:00 PM
29 Comments:
Goosebumps...
Beautifully stated!
Have a happy eight-year-old weekend!
Beautifully put!
I remember those comments from more experienced Mums about "growing up so fast" and I never really took much notice.
Its so true and although I love seeing my boys grow and experience new things, I can't help but feel sad for the days when I was the centre of their universe.
Enjoy being 8 years old, we should all take more time to do it!
How dare you make me weepy on a Saturday morning. That was lovely. My Animal is the same age as Fly and I'm having a tough time stepping back to watch the day to day. I get so wrapped up in the truly unimportant. It's nice to be reminded to enjoy the moment. Every one of them.
So true! Time is "irreversible and irreplaceable."
Very true...I am feeling every ounce of what you just wrote...
This was one of the your most well written post. It gave me chills. You have a way with words and pictures, but out did yourself with this one. I loved it. Thank you.
lovely, lovely post and pictures.
So adorable and very well put. :)
Evocative post.
He's so sweet, your little Fly.
How eloquent!
I wanted to tell you that I was in Old Navy today and they have a T-shirt that says "damselfly". I wanted to buy it for you right then and there...but wasn't sure of your size.
Aw. It's not nice to write such things when pregnant ladies are reading. Snif snif.
WOw it looks sunny and warm there! I'm wearing gloves and having to put on lip balm here!!
So beautiful. So true. Isn't it wonderful to live it all again with them?
So I'm all caught up in the poignancy and sweetness and then I'm thinking - "Hey, what a fantastic pedicure! I wonder how she finds the time..."
And then I resumed my nostalgia.
Cathy, I am SO glad that someone else said it b/c I was thinking how great her pedicure looked as well. LOL... :D
Brilliant and beautiful. (as usual.)
Actually, the pixels are too small to let you see the little chips in my polish. ;)
What a beautifully written post - you made me a little teary eyed.
I can't tell you how much I needed to read this post right now. I am always so caught up in living in the "what's next" that I so often forget to savor the "right now." Thank you for this.
Wonderful! I love the shot of your toes!
I love what you wrote. I just heard or maybe read a quote that says, "Days may seem to drag on, but years are a blur" I really value this saying. I have two children (4 and 2 yrs old) and I can't believe how fast time has gone. Today at church, my son was promoted to the 2 yr old class and I thought I was going to cry. If only time had a pause button:)
what a great post! i was blogrushed here and i loved it. my favorite part: the pic of your own feet...how gorgeous is that.
After a gray and dark weekend it's so wonderful to see pictures of sun.
Great post.
That was beautiful. The line "What can I do today that I couldn't do yesterday?" struck me especially.
Beautiful and poignant and perfect, my friend.
"...'Watch, listen and savor.'...everytime the sun rises, 'You will never be this small again.'"
Mmmmm. Thanks for the reminder.
Lovely post.
Time for some cotton candy!!!!!
(Beautiful post!)
Beautiful post. I tagged you for a meme!
I came to try and win a prize and I'm leaving in puddles. A beautiful post!
Jen
meddlingkidd
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