It’s not his birthday. There weren’t any major accomplishments to warrant the glowing candles. It was a simple request. “Mommy, can I have candles in my pancake so I can sing and blow them out?” He looked at me with such hope in his eyes. I couldn’t help but notice his disheveled hair and Peter Pan jammies.
Of course.
I’m more aware than ever of how quickly my first born child is growing up. His mannerisms, his attitude, his actions in general. It’s difficult to watch, but impossible to look away. I find myself watching him from across the room with mixed emotions. I love the person he is becoming with each day we are blessed with, but I worry all the time about the inevitable things I won’t be able to shelter him from, control, or fix. It goes too fast. That’s all there is to it, therefore, I will hold on to each moment with a strong grasp. I will collect those moments, breathe them in, and tuck them away for another day – rainy or sunny, it doesn’t matter. I will pull those moments out as often as I dare, they are a part of me, they have embedded themselves in my heart.
So, this morning when he asked for candles in his pancakes, really I had no choice. There would be candles, there would be his traditional song Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and then with all the breath his four year old lungs could muster, he’d extinguish the glow that hovered over his breakfast.
And with that, I learned another lesson from my four-year-old.
Celebrate each day.
Happy Thursday!
~Melissa
Melissa that was such a powerful post. It is so true and the mother’s perspective you captured so perfectly. It actually made me stop and reflect on how my wife views and acts with our children and the “babying” that we men view is probably the holding on to those moments. Thanks for sharing this, blog and all your work and photos are really a great gift to both your children and us.
Love You!
Melissa, you are spot on. Your post made me think about today and how I will take in my son and all that he is. I can’t believe that Drew will soon be 5. Love your blog!
such a good lesson…one I need reminding of from time to time for sure!