I know Ill always remember these slow summer days with Coralina at 2. Paint, water, bubbles, and shaving cream. Feeding chickens, jumping on the trampoline. Laundry on the line. Lots of dirt, lots of water play. Very little clothing. Closing in on potty training is easy in the summer. Its more than hot: its triple-digit hot. We swim almost every day in warm water thats effortless to be in. Dont let anyone tell you that 85-degree water isnt refreshing. Its comforting and sublime. Ive had a love affair with summer all my life. (My daughters middle name is Summer. ) I know its hard to believe, but these long hot Texas summers are heaven to me. Her attention span is short; seems like I just get the easel and paints set up, with her personal Pandora station playing, water tub and cups and hose ready to go, and shes busy for a few minutes and then on to something else. But shes full of delight and wonder, totally in the moment. And really I have nothing more important to do than chase her around, endlessly cleaning up after her and moving through the revolving door of food preparation, food delivery and food cleanup. Midday naps are glorious, whether I take them with her or have a little quiet time to myself. Im just accompanying her on her little journey through the days, literally watching her grow, witnessing her expanding vocabulary with my own wonder. Sometimes it does all feel mundane; sometimes the house feels stuffy when its too hot to open the windows but the AC cant quite keep up. Sometimes I get antsy and lonely even, like all mothers of babies/toddlers. Sometimes Im frustrated at not being able to get to the gym, go dancing, lose the extra 10 pounds of baby weight, get an uninterrupted night of sleep, or a long hot bath. But in the big picture these years represent a very short time of life and I wouldnt have it any other way. I have to admit weve had some grand adventures this summer which prevent me from even getting close to stir crazy. And every time I get ready to take a trip, wrapping my head around packing again (it never gets easier, even after all these years, even after a couple dozen trips packing for two, or three, if Will comes).... I always have this rush of joy when I think: oh yeah, Coralina gets to come with me! I feel fine anytime shes around me now And shes around me now almost all the time. - James Taylor
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 19:25:15 +0000
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