Author Anna Quindlen said, “The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less”(Loud and Clear [2004], 10–11).
So this first "mom moment" is of my dear Ella, who we found outside making (in her words) b-sgetti out of sticks and trying to force Kayla ("just one bite, Kayla") to eat it. It made me smile to think of my first child pretending to be a mother herself!
8 comments:
I loved that quote during conference too - it really made me stop and think about my daily activities and I've really made some changes. I wish they could just stay little forever!
We just watched some home videos tonight, and we had little clips with Ella and Kayla in it. It was so fun to watch those and remember Ella coming over to play with Chance and bringing her several Thomas trains. Also, we watched the clip from the three kids all taking a bath together. It made me miss you guys so much! We love Ella and Kayla. And I love the picture you're sending in for the contest- it is beautiful!
So, babysitting went well. I think another year of maturing helped one child in particular to grow out of certain tantrums. ;) Thankfully we didn't have to deal with anything like you experienced last year, and the money is going to buy me a new camera lens! Yay! :)
What a great quote! So totally true. I wish I could record every moment to play back some day when I am old and gray. Even now it is so hard to remember some of the things that Ella did in her first year. Where does time go?? Your Ella making spaghetti is so cute. I remember spending hours doing stuff like that when I was little
This quote made an impact on me too. I get too focused on "getting things done" sometimes that I breeze over the little moments. I just love b-sgetti too. I can see that Ella has learned some of that encouraging mothering from her sweet Mom. Cute story and picture!
Oh, BTW: I saw your husband and darling Kayla walking around at stake conference today. Hope you are enjoying your Sunday.
I also love that quote, what an amazing reminder for me to savor my little girls and their cute littleness :) People always tell you it goes by so fast, and it does! I need to be better at writing more of that stuff down for sure. I love little Ella making her basghetti and trying to feed it to Kayla. Too cute.
Also, um, so tempting to come and meet you in St Geroge! Christian's grandma has a condo down there and it's looking very likely for us to be in Utah over July 4th and St. George is not too far from Orem. That would be too fun!!! And New York just has to work out... fingers are crossed! :) We will see each other again!!! :)
I love it!! Lauren what a great idea and I really love that quote. What a good message for all mothers. Thanks for the reminder. Ella is so cute
What a sweet post, and the quote is absolutely true. I definitely need to work on that. I love the picture too!
Loved the quote. It makes me really think about what is truly important in our lives...How cute of Ella to be outside making b-sgetti. I remember making mud pies in the garbage can lids....oh the joy!
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