Friday, June 22, 2007

Happy, Happy

Last night Katie and I went to see "Romeo and Juliet" at KC's Shakespeare in the Park. It was a beautiful night and the production was lovely. Sitting there laughing together, whispering to one another from time to time, watching the shadows gather and darkness slide over the stage—well, it was just about as good as life gets in some ways. On the way home, we talked about love and relationships and the differences between men and women.

I loved being a mom when they were babies, toddlers, and young kids. The teen-aged years had flashes of brilliance along with plenty of challenges. But this, this young adult stage has a grace I could not and did not imagine. I am so thankful, so grateful for this front row seat where I can watch the drama of their lives unfold.

It's not all beer and Skittles, of course. From here you can see the hair in the noses of their mistakes, feel the pinch of their small pains like too-tight shoes, and their bigger pains strike you like silver stakes through the heart. Worst of all, there's precious, precious little you can do to warn or redirect them. When a toddler gets too close to a flame, you move the candle. When your candle-moving days are over, all you can do is trust that they learned to step away on their own. Or to use a fire extinguisher.

So far, so good with that. Happy, happy.

May each of you know such happiness.

14 comments:

riversgrace said...

Love

Anonymous said...

I'm not a Mom and no longer have my Mom. Since I will never experience a Shakespear in the Park night, I appreciate being able to read about yours. Beautiful writing, as always.
-M

Kim said...

I love reading about these wonderful mother/daughter moments! With your daughter, and other times with your mother. Such precious relationships.

The Geezers said...

Don't know about you, but I'm also looking forward to the grandparent years. And these now are closer for us than the candle-moving years.

Yay!

Alijah Fitt said...

Stop making me cry.
I love, love, love Shakespeare in the park, especially Romeo and Juliet. I must have seen the play and the movie at least 20 times.

Deb Shucka said...

"From here you can see the hair in the noses of their mistakes, feel the pinch of their small pains like too-tight shoes. . ." Perfectly written! So glad you're getting the grace of relationship with young adults you helped guide to this place. Love.

Anonymous said...

Jerri! "...hair in the noses of their mistakes"?? That's so incredible, and so incredibly scary!

Your pages are oozing joy. What a happy reunion we're all enjoying, right alongside you. Thanks so much for sharing it with us :) xo t

Jess said...

Wonderfully said! Yes, love the "hair in the noses of their mistakes" too.

I'm so happy for you.

Soon!

Carrie Wilson Link said...

Ditto Tracy! I'm happy you and Katie are having such a great time together. Happy, happy!

holly said...

smiling here after reading this!

Anonymous said...

These posts about your relationship with your daughter have made me feel so warm and happy inside! What a wonder mother you are. I hope when the time comes, I can have such beautiful relationships with my girls. Lots of Love!

Michelle O'Neil said...

And I'm happy for you Jerri.

Very happy for your joy.

Amber said...

"hair in the noses of their mistakes"-- That is brilliant. love it. ;)

I also love to hear anything you have to say about being a mom. I can imagine me at your stage, with my babies are grown. Just being togethre like that...I hope we will also be happy happy.

:)

Go Mama said...

Love your observations! Well said.