Like many of you, I have a child for whom today was the last day of school. Because it was a half day - only 3 hours - I decided to stick around the school area and just wait for her to finish at 11:30. Sitting in my car and reading, I noticed some kids coming outside for one last gym class, and lo and behold it was my daughter’s class. Let me tell you, time stood still for me today…
Unnoticed as I sat down the block in my car (although I felt a little like a stalker), I watched my daughter play in the schoolyard with her class…the last day of Grade Four.
Bizarrely, I thought for a moment of continuing to read my book as it was very engrossing. My momentary lapse of reason was eclipsed by the awareness that I was witnessing one of those eternal moments, when kids are just being kids; a simple moment that most parents only wish they had the opportunity to see but alas, cannot because they are at work every day. It is even more poignant for me now as I type about it, and see even more clearly how fleeting it was. It almost seemed as if the kids were playing in slow motion. I could see all the different dynamics at play between them, and could see that they took themselves very seriously, while simultaneously being able to view them as pure innocence; just children laughing and running around in a playground. It could have been any school, anywhere…but it wasn’t, because there was my beautiful daughter. I thought I was grateful before, but never have I been so grateful as I am RIGHT NOW.
It is not the little things, but our awareness and appreciation of them that make all the difference…
July 5th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
That was beautifully written, and deeply felt, by you and by all of us reading, through your words!
My daughters are grown and I often see young girls and think back on days when maybe I was too busy to stop and notice the important things.
Now I notice how my granddaughter tilts her head to read, just like her mother did, and how a small curl escapes her pony tail and falls onto her forehead, just like her mother’s did…
Precious beyond words, and I am finally noticing.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:40 am
Precious beyond words…yes.
Thanks, Patricia, for noticing the depth I was trying to convey. I really felt deeply when I wrote that, and again re-reading it now.
ENJOY, as I know you are.