Walking my dog Taz this morning, I passed a mom and son waiting for the school bus. As we slowly trotted past, I overheard the boy, I’m guessing about nine years old, regaling all the fascinating intricacies of the silk worm. Mom listened intently as he displayed his prowess in all things silk-worm-esque. As he finished she smiled and said “I think you’ll do fine on your test today.” His little face beamed as he grinned back.
When you reach your perch in the middle-aged cheap seats, you are often asked: “What do you miss the most?” For me, I miss moments like the one I witnessed this morning – I miss the little things.
My son Jimmy is now twenty-three years old, and I’ve loved all the moments, big and small, that I’ve experienced with him. Big moments are easy to remember: high school and college graduations, prom, getting his driver’s license.
It’s the small moments that sneak up on me – the one’s that slip into my thoughts when I least expect them. A magazine photo that reminds me of bath time. A map of the US reminding me how we memorized all the state capitols together. Just last week I saw a pigeon on an office window sill and it had me recalling how Jimmy loved to run through the pigeons that would amass on the sidewalk outside of his daycare center. These are the times that I miss the most.
As Mother’s Day approaches, I’m wishing all the moms out there a million small moments worth remembering.
What are some of your fondest small moments?
Cheers,
Kimba
So true about the little things. They catch me off-guard every now and then and make me either smile or she's a wistful tear. Great post.
Like your son, my baby girl is 23. It is the small things that are the most tender memories.
Hi Kimba, Great post! What I miss are the moments like sitting in froot of my son Gabe and watch him as he would eat a caramel cake or sponge cake…he's always had a way to take his sweet ol' time and truly make it an experience. He still lives at home and in a way he still eats his deserts that way but there was somethng special about the one tooth little boy with caramel on his lip…LOL
Oh, I love this! It makes me remember how Jimmy would eat dry Cheerios cereal with gleeful abondon, half into his mouth and half scattered on the floor surrounding his high chair. Perhaps I AM to blame for him being a bit of a slob! 😉
Lovely story Kimba 🙂
I never had those moments with my own children, but have 2 special nieces and I treasure the time they used to visit me (individually) and stay for a holiday .. once I was terrified when one of them was rollerblading, in a very wobbly way, in the park, thinking she might go home in pieces!
Kids have a way of bringing out all your emotions in such a short time 🙂
Jacs
Oh, little moments aren't just for our own children; and not just children – I hae plenty of small but meaningful memories of my parents and my grandparents. If I smell "White Shoulders" powder it immediately reminds me of my Nana.
Oh, this is wonderful. My husband and I have been talking lately about all the changes we have seen in the last 15 years of marriage including how fast it seems our children are growing. One is 8 and one is 4, as we look through their pictures it seems like time passes so quickly. This is a great reminder to enjoy those little moments. Thanks!
It's such a cliche, but it really does all go by so fast.
I don't have children of my own, but I spent so much time with the children of our best friends as they were growing up I often feel they are mine. Not long ago I was in a small country store here on the island doing some last minute shopping before heading home when I heard my name being called out, but it came from a deep man's voice I didn't recognize at all. I looked around trying to figure our where it came from when this larger than life man came rushing up enveloping me in his big arms saying "Aunt Marty it's been so long!" This man who now towers over me used to sleep on my lap when the 'adults' played poker, I baby sat him and his sister – and yes – I even changed his diapers. The whole thing caught me off guard and like a ninny I burst into tears. So yep, I may not have kids of my own but I do understand what you mean by the little things.
Oh my gosh Marty – I cry like that all the time. I can so see you reacting in that way.
Great post, Kim, thank you so much for sharing how important the "small" things are in motherhood…..thanks for the reminder 🙂
The small things sometimes get lost in the shuffle, but they sure are important.
Hello Kim,
You asked: "What are some of your fondest small moments?" I thought that I was going to share moments from my adulthood, but the photo of your son playing in the bathtub brings back a memory from my childhood. I am the youngest of 11 children and as the baby of my family, my mother rarely let me out of her sight. I was always fighting for my independence, to be allowed to do the things that my older siblings were doing. I remember on one rare occasion when my mother and I were home one weekend by ourselves, because my siblings were at overnight camp. During that weekend she loosened the reigns and allowed to take a shower for the first time on my own- not a bath but a shower. And I really felt like a "big girl". I felt that I was finally on my way to freedom. -Peace & Blessings, Phyllis
Phyllis – I love your story. Did it seem significant at the time, or has it become significant over time?
I miss the Tuesday morning Starbucks stop on the way to school. I drove her every day, even though she could've taken the bus. It was our time to connect. She cherishes those mornings as much as I do.
Victoria, I used to love how the best conversations happened while I was driving. Still do!
I miss the little talks we had every morning when I drove him to school. I miss his hand in mine but when we visit, as he lives in another state with his family, he always takes my hand, despite his 6"3 frame or what we are doing, because he knows.
I LOVE that he still holds your hand – that is magical.
good stuff here. good writing. good momming. you done good.
From one mutha to anutha – Happy Mom's Kate!
I miss those things terribly! Glad I'm not the only one. It's funny sometimes when you are in the day to day trenches with young children (mine were 3 years apart) you think will this ever end! It does…alot faster than you think!
In the blink of an eye, right? One day you look up and they're six feet tall, they need to shave and they're asking you to make coffee!
That's a beautiful anecdote and what a lovely mom. Your post reminds me of all I missed by not becoming a mother.
Carol, I just read your blog post from today, and seeing how you used those beautiful glasses, I know you are a gal who has many, many sources for small but important memories.