This morning Clara woke up like a lightning bolt. She launched out of bed from a sound sleep to a wide awake little girl as if there was an alarm going off in the world that only she could hear. She spun in a circle looking at the room, smiling at everything as if she were seeing it all for the first time. As if she had just been born, a new person, a magical awakening. Then she turned to me and beamed, “Daddy! It’s my birthday! It’s my birthday today and I am five years old.” she held up her open hand. “And look!” she spun in a circle. “look how tall I am! And I’m not even standing on my tippytoes.” Then…
A father's struggle to capture his children's brief moment of youth in words and pictures
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Life is hard for children in today’s world. They deal with so many things that I don’t remember being an issue when I was a child. For example, the other day I saw Clara punch herself in the nose while trying to peel a banana.
The other day Lydia stumbled up to me claiming that she had hurt her foot. “Oh no.” I said, examining her obviously unharmed toes. “Do you need Daddy to kiss it? Would that make it feel better?” She gave me an exaggerated pout and shook her head, “No. I think it needs a Dance Party.” I think she might actually be onto something. This evening when I got home from work, Clara was complaining about her stomach hurting. But just 20 seconds into “ABC” and she was break dancing on our bedroom floor claiming it was all better. Try it. It’s miraculous.
Clara woke up today stretching before she even opened her eyes. Then she opened them and seemed a bit surprised to see me watching her from nearby. I could tell she struggled for a moment to remember where she was. She and her sister had spent the past several nights at their grandparents house so that Andrea and I could have a short vacation before the baby arrives. The girls enjoyed their time, but I know they were happy to be back home. So, as she woke I asked her about how she had slept and if she had any good dreams she would like to share. She claimed it was a fantastic night filled with wonderful dreams. And then she stared up at…
Where Are We Here? 