I’ve really enjoyed this day so far since deciding upon waking that I was going to “be here now.”  I am usually rushing around preparing for the next activity or taking photos or doing other things than being in the moment.  It is unnecessarily stressful.  Today, my daughter woke up at 7:00 and I let her take the lead.

First she did some arts and crafts and I had a lovely cup of coffee, read a little bit of a magazine, and just watched her create.  Then she wanted to finger paint, which does make a mess, but I went along with it and it wasn’t so bad.  I noticed afterwards that I was barely keeping up with her… she’d dump water on the floor and I was still cleaning that up when she was on to using markers on her dishes… so we slowed down.  We went upstairs to play and I didn’t rush her to get dressed.  She “read” some books to me and led us in some very imaginative pretend play involving an airplane trip.  We spent the last two hours before naptime at our neighborhood’s lake, watching the ducks, playing with sticks, and looking for dogs.  It was quite enjoyable.  I didn’t check my phone.  I didn’t take out my camera.  Well, ok… a few pictures.  She’s just so adorable!

I feel that time is wooshing past and I want to slow it and savor these days.  The weather is nice, our health is good, we are happy… let’s enjoy it! The last week has brought amazing images that are still in my mind: my little girl in a tutu with her arms above her head, dancing to her own rhythm; her intently drawing and stamping and stickering to her heart’s content; the cats following my daughter around the house since she has treats in her hands.  She is beautiful and willful and sweet and creative and I could not love her more.