The other evening, my youngest daughter and I sat on the couch and watched "You've Got Mail" for the 35,000th time, and still enjoyed every moment of it. My daughter likes it because she loves books and thinks that I'm a lot like "Kathleen Kelly." I love it because of the story line, three of my fave actors being in it, and of course the setting in NYC.
Even after the 35,000th viewing, we still cried at the same place that we do every single time. We simply call it, "the twirl" scene. You see, we used to twirl and dance like I'm sure many of you mothers and your daughters did together. We've picked larkspurs and Queen Ann's Lace, taken walks, have run through fields of wild flowers, rolled down hills, tickled, giggled, and just plain laughed together. We still do. But something about watching "the twirl" scene had a deeper emotional impact on my girl this time. She cried deeply. When I finished my weeping episode and asked her if she were okay, she said, "No... I'm growing up too fast."
I never realized that we both had been crying about the same thing. I cried because I remember so fondly my little dancer, and I could never imagine my life without her. She cried because she remembers being my little "boo bear" who was my always constant companion when she was younger. "I'm just growing up and getting big too fast, Momma. I'm going to miss this (snuggle time) when I grow all the way up. Sometimes, I wish I were little again."
"I know, sweetie, I know," I said. "I'm right there with you. But I have to say that I love who you are growing up to be, and I wouldn't exchange that for anything in the world."
We dried our tears, kissed each other and sat back to watch the rest, knowing that we'd cry again when we heard Brinkley bark and Joe Fox come walking around the corner calling his dog's name. Then, "Don't cry shop girl..." And, we did.
XOXO CJ
Shoe Mood:
Home relaxing because of a "Snow Day." YAY!
7 comments:
***sniff***
Very nice post. And yes, they do grow up too quick.
Booooooooo-hoooooooooo!
They do grow up so fast....Cate's still so little that she's thrilled to be getting bigger and bigger all the time. I haven't really thought so much about when the growing up will start to ache at her heart too......It's one thing for us moms to feel how bittersweet it all is, but entirely another when THEY start to see it too....
Thanks for sharing this- very poignant and wonderfully loving.
Rena - Thank you. It happens so very quick, doesn't it?
Court - I think it made it even more of a "cry-fest" for me when I realized what was bothering her so much. She has always been aware of her personal changes over the years. For example, when she turned ten she said that, "When you're a 'tween' boys don't have cooties anymore." Tee! Hee! Thank you, sweet friend!
Oh what a sweet post! You and your daughter will have so many wonderful shared memories, which are more precious than gold.
Awwww! What a wonderful moment with your daughter, even if she is growing up too fast.
Bish & sruble - Thank you.
Sometimes, I think I gush a little too much over my girls. Thanks everyone for indulging me. XOXO
Snow days are great! My daughter and I have so much fun when we get to stay home together. We're heading into the teenage years soon. I hope this doesn't change!
Post a Comment