This morning after our traditional Friday morning breakfast of donuts for the girls and a steaming cappuccino for myself, we piled back into the car to begin the school drop offs.
First stop was Pumpkin’s school. She was eager to go today – dressed like a Pippi Longstocking/Punky Brewster mashup (jeans topped by a jean skirt with a short sleeve shirt layered underneath a pink sweater – I’m not entirely sure how she could move with all her bulky layers). She gleefully joined a game of hide and seek with a friend and The Princess and I ventured back into the sunny day to get back on the road.
In the van and buckled in, we turned on the road again and started driving towards the school. We don’t always talk much in the car. Sometimes we sing to the radio (usually, we do), but not so much talking. I was taking in the road and the way the light cast a golden hue on the day.
Then I glanced back in the rear view.
The Princess’s reflection took my breath away.
She was deep in thought – brow furrowed. Her pale blue eyes were focused – not so much on any particular thing, perhaps, but fixed on something, not glancing about. Her smooth cheeks, her dainty nose (which she does NOT get from me!), her mouth set in a slightly open half smile. She had been trying to figure out something, she said later. Did she want to buy erasers at the book fair and some such.
All I could think as I was looking at her face, though, was just how truly lucky I am.
Sometimes I forget it – sometimes I get frustrated with little things (oh! The bickering! The wadded up bath towels that never get hung on the towel rods), but then I see their faces. When I look at my daughters – when they don’t know that I am seeing them – I am truly seeing them.
And I am lucky.
About sarah
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Yes, thank you for the reminder and the beautiful glimpse.
It is easy to get lost in the bickering and dirty towels. We should relish their sweet faces more.