Blink

By Cooper

Last week we moved from the house we lived in for seven years. I carried three of my four children into that house as infants. My 8-year-old told me the night before we left that moving was the hardest thing she ever had to do. Thank God, but, still, I ached for her. She wrote a letter to the new owners -- "I love this room and please don't change it. If you do, I guess that is OK." -- and when we sat on the floor where her bed used to be and she read it to me, I sobbed right along with her. The whole process of moving has me sentimental and thinking about the insanely fast pace of time. Forgive the sapiness, but, this is for my kids.

I called Grandma and Papa and told them I was going to have a baby. And I blinked and you were here, one by one, all four of you.

I held you as you cried through the first six weeks, a tummy ache, an ear infection, a bad dream, and it seemed like forever. But, then, you slept through the night.

You sat up, crawled, scooted, wobbled, walked and ran. Now it is hard to catch you.

I blinked and we went off to baby classes and preschool and then you got on the school bus and were away all day.

Now you dress yourself, do homework and you don't want me to hug you in front of your friends.

You like loud music and you lock your diary after you write in it.

Soon I will blink and you will want money for jeans and keys to the car. You will want to make your own decisions and won't like some of the things I have to say. You might not think I understand. But I promise I will try.

I will blink again and you will be off to college.

Figuring out who you are.

Exploring the world.

Looking for answers.

Getting a job.

Moving away.

Falling in love.

Someone will ask your dad and me, "Who gives away this child?"

Then, someday, I hope, you will call me and say I am going to be a grandma.

I will cry and you will cry.

Soon enough you will tell me you blinked and time flew.

And I will smile and nod because I understand.

Cooper is the parent of two girls and two boys, ages eight to one. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pa., with her husband and children.

Comments

[Liesl]

I never thought about how my family was born in the house I now own, but your writing has reminded me how much I take it for granted. Thank you for posting!

[Robin P]

You'd think I would've known not to read your post without having a box of tissues handy. Now my keyboard is all wet.

Thank you for letting me in on the secret of keeping Lillianna young forever. I am never blinking again. No good can come of it!
*sniffle sniffle*

[MacMomma]

I was tearing up as I read this. The time we spend with them seems to go so fast - you said it beautifully.

[chris]

Beautiful. And so true.
You brought me to tears this morning.

[Cityslicker mom]

This is so beautiful. The tears are welling up right now. Good luck in adjusting to you new place.

[Kelli Diane]

I'm currently struggling with the cross-country move my husband I made a year ago, while six-months pregnant. Thank you for reminding me of the many memories we have in this new house, including the day we brought our son home.

[Shelley]

Beautifully written.

[amy h]

I'm crying. Very nice post.

[Meredith]

I too didn't realize how emotional I'd get when we moved. As I cleaned the walls in one of the kids' rooms after all the furniture had been removed, I saw a perfect, dirty handprint on the wall. Then I thought about how we'd brought all the kids home from the hospital to this house, remembered how much we'd experienced there as a family. And I felt melancholy.