“These are the good ol’ days,” I thought
As sun invited a late winter’s walk.
A soccer ball in his hand, a leash in mine,
He slipped his free arm around my waist
to emphasize sweet declaration:
“It doesn’t get much better than a walk with your mom,”
And I thought, “Liar!” but in that moment he meant it,
So I believed it.
And it was nothing and everything and just quite enough.
Two on two and one on four
Breathless chatter, he matches stride to mine.
Peaks then valleys and level straights,
It strikes me funny that this is life.
A wayward sock, disagreeable and unimpressed with convention
Becomes the Princess and the Pea in my shoe.
Sitting, unlacing, irritated by interruption,
I’m amused, then impressed, how he makes it game,
Kicking his ball and patiently waiting.
And it was nothing and everything and just quite enough.
He sprints up the hill and I feel my age,
The gravity that gives him flight
is the same that holds me captive
and I try to remember when I stopped being able to fly.
As I reach the crest he hands me a gift,
Golden but without feature, the face of a dandelion.
He knows me well, he knows my heart,
how it dances to the music of his spontaneous generosity.
My smile and delight is reciprocal gift.
And it was nothing and everything and just quite enough.
We continue homeward and he leads an easy pace,
I marvel he has more words than me–
I never want this conversation to end.
Shadows follow, reluctant eavesdroppers
to secrets and stories worthy of their guard,
and suddenly, he darts ahead again,
Stooping once, then twice, then once more.
He stands triumphant, a victor’s carriage,
Eager, there’s no waiting in his telling:
With outstretched arm and open hand
stained in shades of little boy and grime,
He offers me a golden bouquet…
And it is nothing and everything and just quite enough.
I wonder if lions purr… as this post is puuuuurrrrrrfect!
You’re such a good Mama. Thanks for witing about the lttle moments. They’re the ones that keep us going.
My firstborn brought me a dandelion yesterday, too.
This poem is so touching. It almost brings me to tears. Wow, you are amazing (how old is your son?)!
This makes my heart beat faster, almost panicky, and irregular. My babies are growing up. We’re not where you’re at, but we WILL be before I know it! My “baby” turns nine next month. NINE. Halfway to 18. I look at her and she already show signs of “young-lady-hood.” These ARE the good ole days, and I need to soak them up as best as I can.
What a wonderful poem! You really captured the moments & the wistful wonderfulness of your morning. My Girlie TRIED to pick me a dandelion this morning, but the darn thing was stuck so hard to the ground, she ended up mangling it instead. It’s the thought that counts. 🙂
🙂 thank you! (roooowr!)
They’re the sweetest weed I know. First, golden lions; last, magic dancing
fairies :).
Hey Meg, Oooo, how your comment made my day! THANK YOU. He’ll be 12 next
month, so his sweetness MEANS a lot! 🙂
You’re thinkin’ the same way I think, Amber. “Time flying” is my life since
children…and even during the difficult seasons, I try my best to savor the
moments. This one WAS savorable…and know what? He LOVED the poem I wrote
& said, “I almost ‘got’ all of it,” lol :).
Did you notice most of the flowers didn’t have a stem? Maybe they haven’t
had time to grow yet…:) (thanks for your kind words…I LOVED writing
this!) 🙂
This was so beautiful! Thank you for sharing that with us.
Is it possible to leave a “silent” comment? I wish I could, because there just aren’t words…
Oh, Robin, this is so wonderful! The refrain is “everything and just quite enough” itself. Perfect.
Favorite other lines:
A wayward sock, disagreeable and unimpressed with convention
and I try to remember when I stopped being able to fly.
Shadows follow, reluctant eavesdroppers
to secrets and stories worthy of their guard,
Yay! Thanks for reminding me of these moments.
Golden words.
From a beautiful, golden heart…
It’s nothing and everything and I pray just enough: Thank you….
All’s grace,
Ann
As the mom of a daughter, I love peeking in the lives of moms with boys. This is just beautiful.
Thanks Laura…I LOVED writing it 🙂
This, quite possibly, is one of my favorite comments ever. Silence IS
golden! xo
Laura…you absolutely NAILED my favorite lines. W o w….:)
Ann…YOU READ ME?? I’m honored! I’ve been studying you…savoring your
words. Your visit was a little gift in my inbox…thank you :).
Ah, someone else who understands why dandelions are my favorite flower! Your post made me think of the song “Dandelions” by Five Iron Frenzy, my favorite parenting song ever. Here’s the first part (and please excuse the long comment!):
In a field of yellow flowers,
underneath the sun,
bluest eyes that spark with lightning,
boy with shoes undone.
He is young,
so full of hope,
reveling in tiny dreams,
filling up his arms with flowers,
right for giving any queen.
Running to her beaming bright,
while cradling his prize.
A flickering of yellow light,
within his mother’s eyes.
She holds them to her heart,
keeping them where they’ll be safe,
clasped within her very marrow,
dandelions in a vase.
She sees love, where
anyone else would see weeds.
All hope is found.
Here is everything he needs.