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Thursday, June 11, 2009

Silence

The other day my daughter and I were sitting silently on the porch quietly enjoying each other's company. We weren't talking, we were just being and it was nice. I could sense the weight of my daughter's gaze on my face. Her gaze was more reflective than questioning, though, and I was reluctant to break our easy, silent togetherness. I let her gaze linger until I felt a shift in the quiet.

I turned to fully meet her gaze and found her intently studying my face as if she were drinking in the details. I waited until her inquisitive eyes met my own and she finally spoke. "Mom," she said, "Are you happy?" In that brief instant my mind washed over kids and marriage and opportunities and life and without even needing to reflect I said, "Yes."

I waited as I could sense there was more. The silence stretched between us and I knew she was gathering her thoughts. Finally she spoke again and said, "I thought so. I can tell because of all the tiny lines on your face. The lines are like the shadow of the creases your face gets when you smile, and you look so pretty when you smile."

She paused again and then said, "I hope I look exactly like you when I grow up."

I hope she is fulfilled enough to answer that same question without pause.

I hope she'll look exactly like me.

55 comments:

Sultan said...

This is really heart warming.

ScoMan said...

That is so sweet.

It must me moments like that that really make parenting worthwhile (as opposed to the sass you described yesterday, in which case you might wonder "Why?")

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness...does it get any better than that?????

Anonymous said...

This is so sweet!!!

Hit 40 said...

OH I WANT A DAUGHTER!!!!

So sweet!!

mommakin said...

Oh my goodness, I stopped breathing for a second...

Unknown said...

Awww it's moments like that that make 18 hours of labor with a bad batch of epidural all worth it no?

Unknown said...

A lump in my throat...

Pam said...

That is the sweetest thing I have ever heard. From the mouths of babes...

Stacy Uncorked said...

Awwwwwwwww! That is the sweetest thing I think I have ever read!! You done good, mom! ;)

Sturgmom said...

So precious! It's moments like those that get us through the rest of the craziness!

Lindy said...

Oddly, this makes me sad. It's something I worry about all the time lately. With everything happening in my life is my daughter not getting the "real me" - the one that loves to laugh, smile, play etc...

This post has me crying.

Tina said...

What a sweet and touching moment!

theUngourmet said...

Hello! Please don't make me cry like this first thing in the morning!

What a touching moment between you two. I loved reading this!

Still crying!

LadyFi said...

What a heartwarming moment!

TheKitchenWitch said...

That girl sure loves her Mama.

Susie said...

What a sweet moment! Every mother's dream:-)

Paging Doctor Mommy said...

I hope that Reagan and I will one day have a wonderful moment like this. Your heart must be busting right now!

bernthis said...

Your daughter is one hell of an articulate kid. Beautiful scene. I can't get to have those with my kid

JC said...

Wow ... I wish my daughter and I would have moments like that ..

~~~ Stuey http://rusticranch.blogspot.com is having her Pay It Forward ... if you want any cool items ... go visit her blog ~~~

beth said...

wow. how beautiful! i'm all teary now.

msprimadonna67 said...

These are the kinds of moments we hold in our hearts to carry as souveniers, long after the little ones have grown and set off on their own adventures in the world. These are our treasures.

♥ Braja said...

Kathy, that was beautiful.....like you :)

Anonymous said...

So sweet!

for a different kind of girl said...

Those were the words of a girl far, far wiser than her age! Beautiful! I hope you both remember that moment together forever.

TentCamper said...

very sweet!!! I love when my boys say stuff like that to me. Makes me almost cry.. (but I am a guy...and we don't do/admit to that)

Kristina P. said...

I want to look just like you too!

Jen said...

Oh how sweet! I love how kids know just what to say with out really knowing what they are saying.

Anonymous said...

This just brought tears to my eyes, thanks for sharing!

Kimberly said...

Oh melt!!! I totally just tear dropped for you. What a lovely, lovely moment.

D said...

What an amazing interaction with your child.

Definitely makes it all worthwhile.

CynthiaK said...

Thanks for sharing that one and letting us in on a poignant moment with your daughter. Very special.

I hope you continue to have a life filled with that kind of happy.

Cheffie-Mom said...

This brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful, beautiful post. How blessed you are to have such a wonderful relationship with your daughter! Blessings!

forever folding laundry said...

What a perfect, perfect moment.

~Keri

Suzy said...

I'm not a smiler, never have been. Once a police car in Atlantic City, where I was performing COMEDY, stopped his car and asked me if I was okay!

So I have no lines and have saved a lot on Botox.

Pop and Ice said...

That brought tears to my eyes instantly! How very sweet....

The Blonde Duck said...

You made me snuffle and wuffle at work.

And Lulu is the company that published my book. It lists its books through amazon.

The Blonde Duck said...

Technically, it's a self-publishing company but whatever, right?

Zip n Tizzy said...

Oh my gosh, the tears are streaming down my face...
Happy tears.
That was lovely.

Grant said...

I was kind of hoping she'd grow up to be a hot Asian woman myself, but you're pretty too.

Sapphire said...

Wow.....that was beautiful. I hope I look exactly like you when I grow up too!

blueviolet said...

Oh my gosh, how incredibly touching. Aren't you glad you've saved that for all time on your blog?!!

I've missed you!!!!

Helene said...

This is the sweetest, most touching post ever!! I got all teary-eyed reading it. First of all, I just love the way you were able to enjoy a quiet moment with her. And you let her lead the conversation....see, I'd probably start bugging her.."why? Are you not happy? Did Emily say she wouldn't be your friend again?" and the beauty of the moment will have been completely ruined by my inability to shut my mouth for more than 10 seconds.

Your daughter's insightfulness is very moving!! I only hope my daughter is as appreciative of me as your daughter is of when she's your daughter's age.

ck said...

That was beautiful.

And I'm afraid it boosts my side of the argument, kbexclamationpoint. Or should I say, writer.

Anonymous said...

That was a beautiful post, a beautiful moment. I wish you many, many more moments like that with your daughters.

AiringMyLaundry said...

That is so sweet!

Kathy B! said...

Don't know if anyone reads these comments that I throw in here, but I've had a few emails asking which daughter this was... it's, Rachel, my 11 year old.

Patricia said...

What a wonderful moment. That even brought tears to my eyes. How sweet.

Meg said...

Wow. So, that's why people have kids! I love it! ;)

Anonymous said...

What a lovely memory that was created in that moment.

zelzee said...

Hence.........why I would never have a face lift.

Court D said...

How beautiful!

Gibby said...

That is
AWESOME.

Anonymous said...

Ok...so I am crying too!