“Hey, Mom! Watch!” my young daughter’s voice called as she waded into the waves. “I’m going diving.”
“Be careful! Don’t go too far out,” I said, shielding my eyes from the sun despite the sunglasses on my face.
Her stepdad and I had brought her to Tybee Island during our family vacation in Savannah. She was bored by the historic tours we loved, so the beach was her concession prize.
He sat reading a book under the shade of the pier nearby, cool and happy as a—well, as a clam.
In the rush of getting packed, I had forgotten my bathing suit so I was just going to watch her play in the waves.
I remember so much about that afternoon. It was still early in our life as a family of three. From the time she was almost two until she was five and a half (the half is important at that age), I was a single mom. She was my only child, so I was able to focus on her, my writing, and building a life for us.
Sometimes I’d feel overwhelmed by single motherhood, but sitting down on the floor to play with or read to my little girl helped me put aside my worries for a while. I learned to focus just on being together. Having her taught me how to be present in the moment.
Then my husband came along. He and I fell in love and married, and we became a threesome. In those early years, I remember being so happy and yet stressed at the same time. I was trying to manage things too much—acting as their go-between instead of letting them build their relationship on their own.
But they were doing just fine. He had fallen for her when she organized her Halloween candy on our first family Trick or Treat, and she loved playing Lion King with him in the early morning hours before I woke up.
So, as I stood there on the beach, watching her play in the ocean, I no doubt was wondering (worrying) if they were having a good time, who would choose where we went to dinner, and whether we had enough sunscreen on.
Then, suddenly, my focus sharpened. I saw—really saw—the sunlight glinting off her hair and her dazzling, dimpled smile. I heard the sound of her laughter and squeals of joy carrying over the roar of the ocean. And I thought, Lord! If only I could hold onto this moment forever, or even just a little longer.
Time was slipping away, like the sand under my feet every time a frothy wave washed over them. How was it possible that she would be starting fourth grade in a few weeks?
Well, that was over a decade ago. Through the years, I made sure to store up moments like this and pull them out occasionally, usually around her birthday, the end of the school year, or the beginning of the next.
And when I do, I’m glad for those times when I focused on the beauty of the ordinary. It taught me to pay attention to my life and to those around me, to be intentional about how I live, and to relax and enjoy it.
My daughter is a senior in college now, and her birthday is coming up soon. So, happy birthday, my dear! I am still watching.
Photo by Diya Pokharel on Unsplash
When is the last time you found yourself living in the moment or enjoying the beauty of the ordinary? Leave a comment. I’d love to know.
At Glimsen, I share glimpses of the beauty around us in nature, the arts, and the unexpected. Click the green button below to get my posts delivered to your inbox once a week, and you'll also get a little printable gift of beauty just for signing up.
