My daughter whom I referred to in my profile as M1, was laying next to me on the couch trying her best not to go to bed. When she came into the living room with some sleep threatening ailment, I said "just lay down next to me, over at that end of the couch." "So I can't see the blogs?" she asked. "Correct" I said. "Why are you reading everywhere else when you should just be writing in your own?" asked M1. Good point. Then she said, "why don't you write about our relationship?"
How do I love this kid! Okay M1 stands for, of course, Munchkin #1. Her given name is Tali (pronounced Tah-lee, accent 2nd syllable) Rose (not together, but rather first and middle names). You can tell her name has been abused. Tali is Hebrew for morning dew or technically, my morning dew. So, loosely translated her name becomes - morning dew on the rose in the heart of the field (as our last name translates to heart of the field). Believe me, she is more beautiful than that little poem of a name hints at. It's my blog - it's the only place I can kvell like this!
I want to hold this moment in time and freeze it - us laying here together, laughing about whatever, and take it out and show her when she is 13 and getting a liiiitle tired of her family. Again, when she is 15 and holed up in her room with music blaring and again, when she is 18 going off to college. But, truth is I have enjoyed every moment of our relationship up to this point. Good times/bad times. No real bad - the kid's only eight after all. But she is willful and will break a lesser soul (see previous post) if not heart. She is the embodiment of all that I would like a daughter to be: smart, fun, cute - okay, beautiful - the kid is easy on the eye, considerate, compassionate, giving, musically talented, mathemataically talented, writes well, takes no crap from anyone period! Most of all - she looks out for her little brother. One day we were in the park and Julian (M2) was up on the slide/playhouse waiting in line to go down. Three older children, about 10, were in front of the line holding it up, joking around. Before I could say anything, Tali appeared from playing on the swings and had run up and yelled "Excuse me, you're in the way and my brother wants to go down the slide." Firmly enough that they moved aside and Tali said "come on Julian, let's go". This makes me proud. Julian adores her - he calls her either "Princess or my princess".
I remember, with both of my children, wheeling them in the stroller and invariably the oft repeated "enjoy them now, they grow so fast" heard at every corner. Which I really do know, but I have enjoyed every phase of their lives thusfar. Each part of their development holds its own promise, its own travails. I mean, who wants to change diapers for 10 years? But the promise is what I hold on to.
I guess when I say that I would like to freeze this moment, I mean just to show her and laugh about something from it with her. But I will be very happy to be in all of the moments now and onward. I am not a woman who worries about aging. The promise of what's around the corner, the carrot dangled ahead has always worked out just fine for me. Now with four of us in the wagon, we'll just have to keep an eye on the carrot, but enjoy the ride in the cart as well.
Tali, although this isn't just an "our relationship post", it gives a glimpse into the kind of girl you are. A relationship that I cherish now and will always. Julian, you'll hear about next because a boy like this needs a post of his own!
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15 comments:
Claps hands excitedly, "Brian's writing a po em". Thanks for your comments Brian, you're a good person.
Thanks Brian, the e-mail you have is my home one so I'll check it out tonight. Oh, I can't wait. I'll send you a separate e-mail.
your daughter's name is so beautiful... and this is a lovely lovely post!
and i will, indeed, resist the urge to say "enjoy your kids while you can", because, trust me, you'll always have wonderful memories, which you'll cherish long after they've grown too big to sit in your lap!
our children are our hearts... and i, for one, wouldn't have it any other way!
Thanks Neva, speaking of lovely names - I love yours. What does Neva mean? My full name is Regina, so queen, although they call me General at home (someone has to direct the troops). Never much liked my name, but I don't meet many other Regina's. Nobody really callms me that though.
I see Joel is rocking the vote over at Sar's - go Joel! His is pretty funny. I'll have to show it to my hubby who has run the NYC Marathon (when Tali was just about one year old). My best friend Jennifer was with me and was more impressed with my ability to breastfeed Tali at the marathon's finish without a second thought than with Adrian's actual finish.
I already like Tali. She was, after all, the second scissorshands I met.
Regina is beautiful... and so regal! i was named after my grandmother... and she had no idea how her mother came up with it (this would have been back in 1901. it might come from the Neva River in Russia, tho' none of us are Russian!) it's pronounced neeva, by the way, and i only say that 'cuz folks usually mispronounce it...
and, thanks for that compliment about joel... he is a very funny man... tho' kind of shy. that's why i'm trying to get those votes for him, so he'll start commenting more often! (next stop: Waking Ambrose!)
your husband has run the NYC marathon? color me *very* impressed! i used to run quite a lot when i lived in san diego, but the longest run i ever did was 20 miles. that said, i did run a 1/2 marathon in San Diego 6 months after my first child was born (i did a 10K there when i was 6 months pregnant, too!) but i'd love to do a marathon! my sister and i keep talkin' about running the marathon in Hawaii... but we'll see. with each passing year, the probability of that actually happening gets just a tad higher! by the way, now that you're no longer breast feeding (you're not, right? altho' i lovelovelove the imagery of you feeding your daughter at the finish line!) do you run, too?
anyway, now that this comment has become longer than i ever intended, i'd best say adios!
again...this was a terrific post. and i'm sure you're daughter loved it. (let us know how she respondes to it in, say, 6 or 7 years from now, tho', okay? hee hee!)
respondes?? apparently i'm making up words again. sigh
Funny, that is how I pronounced your name so I must have a soft spot for unique names. Adrian doesn't run as much anymore, although he still keeps his feet to the street. I used to run a looong time ago when I first met Adrian, I got him going. Although he was always the active type - soccer (of course) handball, etc. The NYC Marathon is a fun day to be a New Yorker. Well, Tali was never one not to get her point across, so when she was hungry or cold or tired as the case may have been that day, I let nature takes its course. No! no more breastfeeding! Although I do know some who breastfed until child was 3-4. But I am truly impressed with your running resume - 6 mos post baby and another while pregnant?! You're some woman! I've become a bit of a slug of late, but am strategizing to at least get back to the gym a few times a week. Just from a health perspective, would also like to try yoga fore I am stiff as a brick (maybe Miz B) can give virtual classes.
Anyway, nice chatting as always. Night. Go Joel!
G, that was such a sweet post. My almost 8 yo daughter is aware of my blog though I keep her from it too. She calls it belly of the brawl because that's how she thought belle was pronounced.
Thanks Sar - that's very cute. These 8 yo girls are a lot of fun.
Thanks Jenna - careful on the train.
G-this post is beautiful. I love your mothering style and Tali is already a fave with me.
This is a great idea for Tali to read this type of thing when she's older.
Since my kids were babies I periodically write them a 'love letter'. It tells them what they are like at the time and all the things I love and appreciate about them. I think it will be nice for them to have when they are going through the difficult times of growing up and you forget how loveable you are!!
Lovely portrait. I agree about enjoying every stage. Mall Diva became an adolescent early (if it starts early does it end early?), but I enjoy the glimpses it provides of the grown-up she is going to be.
Here's a link to my novella, to clear up any confusion.
Well, I'm sure this is only the 19th time that I've typed this today. I feel a Stones song coming on.
Kyah-Thank you so much for your lovely compliments and right back at ya! I love the idea of the "love letters". It's nice to actually write something to them I think.
Weirsdo: It's nice sometimes when you get that glimpse - it sort of reassures you that, "hey, maybe we're doing an okay job after all". I will be back into your Novella. So far, I am enthralled.
Morning Dew...I love that!
I knew there was a wonderful meaning to the beautiful sounds this word arouses!
She sounds like a treat for teh eyes and ears :)
Ah Minka, I came back to reread my own post. It's been a while after all and here you are.
Thank you for taking the time and for your sweet words. She is our little treat.
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