Thursday, April 25, 2013

Missing my little violet picker

When my daughter was little, she was always my companion and helper during violet season.  For a week or two each spring, on sunny afternoons we'd go down to the orchard with baskets and sit under the blossoming trees picking violets for drying, syrups and jelly.  During those hours, she and I would discuss all the burning questions of the day.  Why aren't there violets all year long?  Why does the dog always chase the rabbits and groundhogs?  Do bird mamas love their babies?  And so the days would pass.  Quickly.  Ever so quickly.
Eventually Aunt Susie taught her to see 4-leaf clovers, and that took her focus for a little while, but she was still around, talking and singing and chewing on a piece of onion grass.  We'd string rosebud necklaces as soon as that time came, and we'd walk along the creek and make discoveries as soon as it got warm (we usually waited until it was warm because bodies of water seem to have a magnetic pull on her - have water, will fall in).  I can sometimes convince people to do some of those things with me, but she was always game for everything.

  I used to tell her that she wasn't allowed to grow up and my mother would gasp and say, "Don't EVER say that!"  Mom had 5 of us and perhaps missed my point, having been pretty happy to have us grow up and get on with our lives.  It wasn't that she didn't adore the "little us's", it was just exhausting, I suppose.
I never knew that each stage of life - infancy, early childhood, kid-ness, young adulthood, and onward would all be like different people that I would come to miss.  That little kid is now a young lady who is a joy to be around, but I miss all of the others as if they were separate individuals.  Especially during violet season.
So now I sit in the yard and pick by myself.  She's off earning a living.  It doesn't make me sad so much as it gives me time to reflect on how perfect those days were and wonder if I appreciated them as fully as I should have.  It truly is the everyday occurrences that we most treasure later on.

Mamas -  stop a minute and take a mental picture of this day.  Write it down, savor it and know that the day will come that you will miss the little person who is in the process of growing up.  That's all.

8 comments:

Rosemary said...

Good advice for Aunts, too! The thoughts of little people growing up and flying the nest make me wonder what tomorrow will bring.

Tina Sams said...

Oh yes. My little Bobby (the 6'+ 27 yr old) was on my mind today too, as we were waiting to hear about an interview that will take him across the continent. Wonderful opportunity, but it's so hard to imagine that little guy...

Unknown said...

Crying. True words. My oldest child and only daughter turns 11 in two weeks and I miss the times that have passed. I pray I can savor today and tomorrow with no room for regret. Thank you for these thoughts.

Unknown said...

Tina, your words brought tears to my eyes. I have an 8 yr old little guy and I hope he enjoys harvesting with me when we move out of the city. I do know what you mean about the time going fast and treasuring each and every single moment. It really is precious!

Mary said...

Thank you for the reminder to cherish these moments. At times, I get so caught up in the parenting aspect of my kids, I forget to actually enjoy them! *hugs*

Sew Lovins said...

Just found your blog and am crying from this post. I have little ones. Thanks for the reminder to be present and enjoy the precious moments.

Sew Lovins said...

Crying!! I have little ones. thx for reminder to stay present & relish these precious moments

Darlene said...

Oh, they do grow up too fast. My little one is now 36 and has four boys of her own. And HER oldest just tuned 11! Where does the time go? Enjoy each and every day, because they're over too soon.