Friday, May 09, 2008


The Girl’s band concert last night was just as long and painful as predicted. However, the opportunity to see my baby all dressed up and diligently playing an instrument that I could never in a million years learn how to play was totally worth the agony that the rock-hard gym bleachers caused to my back.

The whole time The Girl was playing all I could think about was how much she’s grown. How pretty she is becoming. How proud I am of her and how much I look forward to seeing her reach the next milestone in her life.

If someone had told me twelve years ago that I would be left breathless at the sight of my own child, I would have smiled and nodded but, not really understood. After all, we see our children every day. We watch them grow, change, mature, right before our very eyes. I understand now, though. Because; how often do we really see them? The changes happen so gradually and so quietly, we take them for granted; we really do miss what is happening right in front of us.

Last night, the realization that my daughter is becoming a little woman snuck up on me like a thief in the night. It stole my confidence and left me feeling vulnerable, wistful. Wistful for her baby days, for her chubby toddler years, for the first day of pre-school when her father and I stood outside the school and, for the first time in her life, relinquished our daily hold on her, placing her in the care of someone else, trusting them to adore her as much as we did.

As much as we still do.

I’m not sad to see her grow up. I just want to savor every moment of it happening. I want to not take it for granted. I want to see what is happening right before my very eyes.

I don’t want to miss a thing.


  1. That was a really nice posts. It reminds me that they grow up so fast and we should savor every moment with them and try to be patient when they are just acting their age. BTW - your daughter is beautiful.

  2. Chelle, she's lovely :) And playing the hell out of that flute! From one flautist to another: you go, Chelle's Girl.

  3. Ack! I already feel like this just about every time I see Addy with her hair pulled up- she suddenly looks like she could maybe be five or six, and I am struck with horror at The Time- How It Flies! I'm going to be a puddle of sap by the time she's playing flutes in concerts. Lord help me.
    Your daughter is just lovely, btw.

  4. She's adorable!

    Glad you appreciate seeing her and are going to cherish all of these special moments.