One day you turn around and the baby you once rocked inside you has disappeared.
Your jolly Buddha has been replaced by a wild-haired boy with trouble in his eyes and a boom box in his throat.
Where there were dimples, knuckles are forming, where there were folds, now bones.
The swell of his cheeks and the curve of his head still have that baby silhouette but there’s a structure forming in his jawline.
From a side angle, in certain lights, you can see traces of the strapping lad he will become. Handsome beyond words.
He is conversational now, forming new phrases every day. You enjoy this phase, the stamp of personality making itself known. The sweet expressions of love.
You cherish the confidence in his stride even though with each new step, he is walking away from you. Slowly, but surely, he will walk away.
The true pain of giving birth is the pain of letting go.
But the soul lesson of being a parent is about living in the moment.
He will always be your baby. Yet it’s time to whisper goodbye to the baby you once knew. Say hello to the age of potties and tantrums and toddlerism.
Happy Birthday, Jed. I can’t believe you’re 2!
PS I wrote this on Wednesday on the night of Jed’s birthday, but it took me a few days to get around to sorting out the photos!
What a little doll! I well remember those changing stages. And you are so right, it is important to live in the moment – they do zip by!
Hey LBDDiaries, I know, those moments go by scarily fast. And especially when I’m tearing my (very short…lol!) hair out, I have to stop, breathe and remember that this too shall pass. And I’ll even miss some of those tantrums!
Ah, I know this feeling well! As Khalil Gibran said, your children are arrows to fly from your bow. Beautiful stages we are so lucky to be a part of x
Yes Khalil Gibran writes beautifully about parenting, and so true, but poignant. Hard to let go eh but let’s cherish every stage and be grateful, thanks Zaz xoxo