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subscribeWhen You See the Grate-ness
November 15th, 2010
The other morning I woke up feeling discouraged, thinking about how it was unfair that I had this new obstacle to deal with, and I just want the freedom to choose what I eat without having to think about how it will affect my body and my baby’s.
I got up and moved along with our day. Ella and I got ourselves ready and packed up for storytime and out the door we went, ten minutes late. To compensate for the stories and songs we missed out on, we spent a little extra time among the crowded shelves of picture books that day. We left the building with a bag full of new titles and stories to explore.
Our next stop was the grocery store to pick up lunch and a few staples. On the drive over, Ella Faye read the book Pinkalicious to me. I stole glances of her little face in the rearview mirror as she studied the pictures, analyzing what was going on in each scene and forming the story to share with me.
It was so much better than the radio or any album I could’ve put on to play.
As I slid her into the grocery cart in the parking lot, Ella listed off all the produce we needed…
“Umm, apples…(avo)’cados…pears…’nanas…gapes”
We entered the store and her list kept growing…
“An’ juice, milky milky…”
We approached the deli counter and she exclaimed, “Sann-ich!”
So we put in our order and did our shopping.
As I packed her and our fresh groceries into the car, I asked her if she would read me another book on the way home. She happily obliged. And so I got to hear her sweet renditions again.
Once home, we spread out a blanket on the floor and had a picnic. Then it was time to delve into those new books and go down for nap.
And there I sat, contemplating.
She is just the sweetest little being. I can’t get over how much she is, packed into this little body.
I just want to be sure I grasp each and every moment with her, while it’s still just the Ella and Mommy days. Sometimes I look at her and I am so amazed at this little person. It seems she must be older than two. I worry that at times I don’t realize how small and new she still is, and I take her size and innocence for granted. How do I hold onto this thriving little toddler? Is there a way I can bottle up everything she is right now and open it up later (say the teenage years) to revisit her again? I am terrified that one day I will look at her and wonder where my wobbly little singsong girl has gone to.
Maybe one fault of being a parent is that you are still human. Some days that is a blessing. But sometimes the Mommy or Daddy gets clouded in with “grown-up” issues and you become blind to the magic that children are brimming with. Those times are bound to pop up now and again. They are unavoidable.
Thank goodness for days like that day up there, I guess. And the small acts that we overlook too easily and often. Be grateful for those moments when your mind slows down enough to clearly see the most important things. The little soft cheeked blonde in the backseat, diligently reading stories to her mama, on the way to their next destination.
*Be grateful*
