“Do you know what I want for my birthday, Momma?” She moves around the living room on her mobile scooter, giggling as she poses her question. She scoots behind me and I smell time passing. She can no longer be cuddled in my arms. For the last few months, I’ve struggled to lift her into my grip. Yet another sign that letting go is always in the horizon.
My thoughts are interrupted with her giddy voice, “Momma, are you going to answer my question?”
“Why don’t you tell me. What do you want for your birthday?” I am uncertain what her answer will reveal.
“For my birthday I just want to hang out with you.” Loud and with conviction, every word is direct and punctuated with meaning.
I pause. Her birthday wish speeds through my veins. Overcome, I say, “Really, you just want to spend the day with me?”
Again, she says “Yes.”
This conversation I will remember for the rest of my life. Most of the time I feel like a camera, witnessing various shots of our lives not knowing which picture will be the one with most focus.
But this moment is so clear and crystalline. Her answer so honest and my feeling so genuine, I can feel it in my marrow.
Happy Seventh Birthday dear daughter! May you always want to hang out with your Momma. xoxo
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too.
Awwww! My heart is just bursting. What a wonderful gift. For you and her.
Happy Birthday to your dear daughter. What a special and beautiful wish. May she have a beautiful life full of light and inspiration. I know you will always cherish this moment and I pray many more to come. Congratulations, Mama.
Happy Birthday to your wondrous daughter. Seven is such a great age. And happy birthday to you, too… for what it takes to be such a good mom.
Savor.
Sounds like the best birthday wish ever. My son is 7. Time flies too fast. Enjoy your time together!
7 is a heavenly age for a parent. Well at last for this one with a 7.5 year old girl. 🙂
What a sweet wish. Happy Birthday to your precious daughter! Enjoy your day together.
Love this age. And how incredibly touching and genuine and heartfelt that she wants to spend time with you, and can articulate that at this age.
That sounds like it was a gift for you too. I hope it’s the perfect day and happy 7th birthday sweet girl! You are so loved.
What a sweet birthday gift for both of you. Happy birthday to your sweet, beautiful girl!