A Patchwork Life

Bittersweet

22 Feb 2010 6 Comments

by Jackie in all about me, family life

For some reason lately, I’ve been experiencing these floods of love with my girls. Maybe it’s because they are getting so big (8 in May!), or maybe it’s because there seems to be more gray in my hair every time I look, but so many moments with them, mundane little moments, just knock me out.

Today, Sophie was home from school recovering from a stomach bug, and my husband was sleeping in, so I was rushing around to get Lucy and I ready for school and ran out of time to pack Lucy a lunch. So I promised her I would bring her a surprise for lunch, and at lunch time, my sister and I went to the nearby grocery, bought her a Lunchable (the turkey and cracker kind) and brought it to her. We snuck in through the side door and up to her table before she noticed we had come in, and when she turned? And saw us? The burst of happiness on her face was so bright. And she hugged me, and then my sister, and grinned at her little stack of cheese and crackers and tiny pack of Skittles, and hugged us both again, and scrubbed her little head against us when she did, and I just about melted.

Also today, when I got home, grouchy from a long day, Sophie was so excited to see me, and clearly feeling so much better. And then while we were watching a “short show” before bathtime, Sophie asked me if she could brush my hair while we watched. And we sat there, her little fingers so gentle, twisting and stroking my hair, and then she asked me if she could take a break (of course), and she laid her sweet chubby cheek against my back and wrapped her arms around my waist for just a few moments, before the hair-brushing resumed.

Even now, though it just happened today, my eyes are watering when I write this, even though they are right upstairs, splashing in the bathtub. How much longer will we have that easy unclouded joy between us, and how will I ever watch them walk away.