dress rehearsal

They really are growing up.

Yesterday my oldest daughter discovered the box of fancy little-girl dresses that no longer fit her or her sister.

"Oh mommy! I remember wearing this dress!" she cried as she held the dress (size 2T) up to her almost 9-year-old self. "I wish I could wear this again today for our Valentine's Day dinner!"

"Well honey, I guess you should have thought of that before you grew up like you did." I joked.

"Mommy!" she rolled her eyes. "I can't help it you know!"

She can't help it, I know. I thought of this as I returned to my ironing. None of us can help it.  

My selfish desire to stay in little land with my babies is simply ignored. I pretend this is fine.

"Mommy, don't give this dress away, ok?" She knows me to well. "You have to save it- because when I grow up and move out of the house, I want to have it to put on my little girl someday."

I smile and promise.

I do a dress rehearsal, practicing letting-go in this little act. I pretend I can see it-- that day when she's out of the house-- and I pretend it will be easy to smile and pass on the frilly treasures for the next generation.

the above-mentioned dress.

seems like yesterday...

this actually was yesterday :)

"Now I can see that children are as light as air.  

They float past you, nudging against you like balloons as they ascend."

(S Fisher. read more here.)