out of the mouths of babes

there's a party in the second grade today.  a last-day-of-school-before-winter-vacation party.  organized by the kids, with a bit of help from the teacher.  remember those parties?  when the teacher would ask the class what they wanted to eat at the party, what they wanted to bring, and then you would go home and tell your mom what you were bringing?  this is the first one of those for us.  the first time i haven't found a letter from the teacher in the backpack asking me to bring such-and-such-an-item on such-and-such-a-date for a certain party.  big.  it feels big.

on tuesday, b. asked me to buy two bags of a certain kind of pretzels.  he told me about the party, and that this was what he wanted to bring.  i figured there would be a note later in the week, but there wasn't.  because it's that kind of party.

incidentally, i've wondered why he chose these pretzels.  did he think that i wouldn't buy these?  did he worry that i'd buy newman-o's and try to pass them off as the standard and he'd be embarrassed?  or did he just pick something yummy that he really enjoys and wants to share?

last night he asked me to pack him a small lunch for today.  because, you know, the party and all.  i couldn't bring myself to pack a small lunch.  but i urged him to eat the cheese sandwich and the apple, and i hope he will.

this morning, he was all a-tingle about the party.  i could practically feel his excitement.  i remember that feeling of the last day of school before vacation, the thrill of having a real party in the classroom where the kids bring ice cream and toppings and doritos and oreos.  i was excited, too.

and i had a moment where i was a tiny bit sad that i didn't have any parties today.  nothing to feel tingl-y about.  it's been a quiet holiday season for us.  and truthfully, it has been perfect.  just how i wanted it to be.  but i had a little pang this morning.  and i must have said so out loud.  because little l. in her pink pajamas came running over to me, wrapped her arms around my legs, pulled me into a gigantic hug, and said, "you do have something special today, mommy."  of course i do.

she is my teacher.  they are both my teachers.  every day.

a bit later, in the car at a stop sign, waiting to turn left onto a busy road with cars whizzing by, she piped up, from the back seat, "lots of people are in a hurry."  so true.  "but, mommy, trees are not in a hurry.  trees are still."

i have so much to learn every single day.  from little ones, and from trees.

(the candy cones are from port2port.  they're hanging on the kids' doorknobs today.  a little gift for the solstice.)

Comments

[Alicia A.]

Emily- you really know how to get my tears going.

Happy Solstice to you. I'm sending another big hug to you.

[ani]

indeed. you can't believe how much i've need this post today while, ahem, at work, steaming about computer problems i can't fix. another beautiful reminder of what is REAL.

[domesticali]

I'm with you on the quiet holiday = no tingles thing.

But I'm trying to enjoy the relative peace of it. Thanks to your little one for the good reminder.

[leslie]

oh, those holiday parties at school. it was the first year that i had not helped out.....and i felt a little sad.so, hugs to you miss emily. and here is to quiet holidays. just like i like them.

[joleen]

children really teach us a lot, don't they?

[Amy]

oh she's good. She's real good.

[Grace]

sheesh, how did i miss this in all my silly insanity? i am left feeling a bit speechless and more than a bit humbled. thank you.

[Grace]

ps: i have never, in all my life, said "sheesh" before. but i felt that it might be nice for my comment to be g-rated. ;)

[Janix Moon]

I was looking online for a way to make a necklace out of seashells that my husband and I found in the forest the other day. It was to be for our first born daughter because the shells are native to the land she will be born in next year. Needless to say, the comment in this blog doesnt tell how to make a seashell necklace- but I got to reading your comments and photos anyway. I was blown away and touched by all the little things and the way you see the world and your beautiful children. What a wonderful moment where I could see another beautiful spirit express themselves and just live life. Thank you for sharing these moments in life online where a perfect stranger like me can laugh and feel warmed by all the little things in life that make it beautiful. Namaste, my friend.-Janix Moon

ps. you can check out my blog online if you like...janixmoon.blogspot.com I havent posted in a while and its rather small but you can take a peek sometime and maybe drop me a line! = )