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Mommy and She

2012 March 29
by WWGD

Little D is turning five in a few weeks and the big celebration is on Saturday.

Like I said earlier this week, it is so cliché, but the whole transition is very bittersweet.

I remember being five.

I remember when the first of my friend’s kids turned five and I thought it seemed so big. So independent. So on their way.

I remember looking at her when she was just one and thinking she would stay that way forever.

Chubby little cheeks, uneasy little stride, goofy little giggles.

But the cheeks have slimmed down and are starting to show the signs of bones that many will envy some day. The stumbling stride has been replaced by a confident run. And the giggles too often get surpassed for “Mommy, I am busy drawing,” or “Mommy, please get me more milk,” or “Mommy, I need some time to myself.”

I watch her outgrow another favorite pair of jeans. I see flashes of insecurity when kids snub her on the playground. I relish her excitement when she senses our pride in her.

I see all the things I was at five. Stubborn, picky, full of things to say, smiling, sharing (most of the time), longing for security and safety.

And I worry that maybe somehow, some day we won’t be best friends forever.

Then this morning came along.

And Little D woke up on the wrong side of the bed. She whimpered for a bit and then it graduated into an emotional cry. She writhed in that uncomfortable way you do when your legs are too long for your body, your hair is in your face and you really wish you were still in a deep slumber.

The way a 5-year-old does.

But she reached for me. Not for a hug or a giggle. Just to sit with her. Just to be there. Just to stay.

An hour or so later, when we are at school, ready for drop off, she let my hand fall from her grip and ran off with her favorite friend.

Cheekbones flushed, confident run, giggles aplenty…though not for me.

And that was ok.

I just knew, just like that. It would be forever and a day.

*Photos via here, here and here.

10 Responses
  1. Jasmine P. permalink
    March 29, 2012

    Beautifully written! And as I sit in the salon chair getting my hair did I can’t help but sniffle b/c my baby girl just turned 5…I get it.

    • WWGD permalink*
      March 29, 2012

      Thanks for reading! And for taking the time to comment. Happy belated to your little lady!

  2. March 29, 2012

    Oh, what a sweet (and sweetly written) post. Tears. And this is mamas and their 5 – or nearly 5 – yo girls. The pictures are beautiful. Are they you two?

    • WWGD permalink*
      March 29, 2012

      No, not us in the pictures (see credits at bottom, I don’t steal!)…but oddly, I think, a fairly close representation of us.

  3. March 29, 2012

    We’re right behind you and it makes my heart hurt

  4. Maria permalink
    March 29, 2012

    Stop making me cry. I may have to stop reading if not. Shaneese is seven and the whole forever and a day while comforting and even inspiring sadly seems more like wishful thinking from where I’m standing right now. I may be wrong. But what if I’m not?

    • WWGD permalink*
      April 3, 2012

      Well today I posted about chicken — no tears there 😉

  5. March 30, 2012

    So lovely…and I can relate. My son just turned five a few weeks ago. Last night he mastered a two wheeler. The look on his face was priceless…but I kept thinking “this is where the big kid stuff really begins…”
    Happy Birthday to your little gal.
    Best,
    Tina

  6. March 30, 2012

    Very lovely post. I will be facing this soon enough in the summer…I have mixed emotions about it! Happy birthday to your sweetheart.

    • WWGD permalink*
      April 3, 2012

      Thank you! And thanks for taking the time to read it 🙂

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