So much to See

With Lucy, snuggled on the couch watching Tangled. Of course, she could watch alone. But together is better. Together, I see. She sees me see.

With Sam and his new game. It does this, and can do this too, and you need 25 of these to make it work and it's oh, so much fun, and he just wants to tell me one more thing. And so I listen to one more thing. Because listening, I see. He sees me see.

With Henry and his favorite book. Even though it's late, it's his favorite and he just wants to read it one more time because reading means snuggling. And snuggling is love. And so we read, and we snuggle and we love one more time. Because reading, I see. He sees me see.

With Jordan, a comment about a book he's reading. With Ivy, a few moments of peek-a-boo, an extra long snuggle before bed. 

My day is busy - a constant juggling of things to do and messes to clean and places to go. I can, because I've done it and know it to be true, go through my entire day caring for my children without actually seeing them one single time. Not in the way that they need to be seen - as more than just hungry mouths or sticky hands. As people. As uniquely wonderful little people. It happens, but oh, how I try to keep it from doing so.

The older ones, so independent... sometimes I have to seek them out. Eye contact. How are you? How does life feel today? I seek them because I want them to know I am here. I see you. I know you. I love you.

And the husband: I see him too. How are you? How does life feel today? I see you. I know you. I love you, too.

And me. I can' forget to see myself. Hello in there? How are you? How does life feel today? Feed yourself too, please. An hour on the treadmill. An hour writing. Best take care of the one who does the caring.

Sometimes having so much to see makes me tired. I want only to close my eyes and let someone else see for a while. Stop thinking. Stop investing. Just be. And so I do. But only for a moment, because really the view is pretty spectacular. And with my eyes closed, who knows what I might miss?

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I've also seen quite a few lovely blogs as of late. This list, over at Power of Moms includes quite a few worth sharing. If I had to pick one though, I'd ask you to read the post below. It's a beautiful post about a Mom falling in love with her baby - a baby much different than the one she expected.


Nella Cordelia's Birth Story

You can still vote through tomorrow, I think. So vote away, friends. But read that link up there first. It's a good one.