January 29, 2013
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{one of those mom moments… you know the ones}
shayne said he would drive her.
i said i wanted to come too.
he just smiled.she sat in the back seat.
her uniform polo shirt looking slightly too big and her black baseball cap clutched tightly in her hands.
the way there was familiar but this particular road was all brand new-
driving our first born to her first real job!i looked out the window as the snow covered trees blurred by in a fog of white.
i thought of all the things i wanted to say. couldn’t remember to say.
wondered had i prepared her enough. was i prepared?should i tell her to be polite and respectful. to take initiative.
did i need to remind her to wash her hands after using the restroom.
and was it silly i felt this sudden urge to warn her against talking to men with strange accents!so the trees passed and the road grew shorter and my heart swirled round and then…
all at once and in this total unready for feeling and just like that, we were there.the van pulled to a stop and i turned. mouth halfway parted to say… something.
but she was out in one bounce and the door was shutting behind her.
she didn’t hesitate a minute but walked straight, looking so tall in that moment.
so much like the young confident woman she is becoming.and just when i was sure she didn’t even realize i was there at all,
right before she rounded the trees out of sight she turned and flashed a big smile..
throwing her hand up in a wave.and i knew she knew.
knew that i was there.
where i always was.
right where i should be.
behind her. encouraging her. praying her forward. watching her go~knowing these kind of moments didn’t need alot of words.
i had said it all a thousand times in a thousand ways long before now.
and i was saying it still..
my reassurance. my trust. my cheering.
even if just in the simple lock of our eyes that brief moment when she turned to look back.she could hear it. all of what i was saying. i know she could.
amber.
Comments (34)
It’s hard to believe she’s that old already. What is she doing? How many hours a week? I remember when my girls first started working.
Do I know? Ohhhhhhhh yes. I got a tear in my eye reading this, because I thought about my girl…when she first left home to go aWAY to college. And my son before her. Those moments when you feel your whole heart and then some, going around the corner with one last look, one last wave. And you pray that God will grant you the chance to see them again and again. We are SO stretched as moms. Hugs to you as you continue to be stretched and prepared for bigger things, moments to come and go.
I can’t believe it.
And yes, for sure. She needs to watch out for men with strange accents.
@ata_grandma - she’s working at a ski resort, in the kitchen! each week is different but it’s usually 2-3 shifts a week and mostly weekends because of school.
@Richgem - ”when you feel your whole heart and then some, going around the corner..” i like how you said that. yes and YES!!
@hananielsgirl - haha! UNLESS.. they’re sweet and cute and godly like Hananiel!!!
)
Oh, she is SO beautiful Amber. I can’t believe how grown up she is.
Brace daughter and mom too! Hugs!
She is beautiful Amber. Aww, the tug of our mommy hearts. Love to you sweet friend.
aw. this is precious. love the perspective you have on this whole mom thing… still having a toddler but also having taken some kids farther down the road than me. just love to hear your wisdom having done this more years… thanks for sharing!
She’s heard you her whole life. Now she’s ready.
It seems sometimes that a mommy’s heart is continually being challenged. As they get older, we have to trust that what we “put in them” will keep them. Your relationship with your children changes as they grow. She is a lovely, wise young woman. I can’t wait to hear about how her first day went!
Such a sweet post… I felt tears behind my eyelids. Xoxo!
Ahhhh… they grow up to fast. I had to laugh though when I read your thought on telling her not to talk to strange men with accents.
Love your heart but especially admire how you love and invest in your children.
o such BEAUTY and quiet confidence in this mother and daughter! LOVE LOVE LOVE!
she’s beautiful and this post about your mother/daughter relationship was beautiful. that’s how I feel about it. love ya, pretty mama!
Goodness, when I read things like this I just want my kiddos to stay little!
Not really, no. But the heart stretching even more, the releasing them to be their own person?
Wow. That has got to be a big huge stretch!
I love watching you, a step or two ahead of me.
Kate will do great, I’m sure!
She’s just beautiful, and I love her eyes.
They radiate peace, softness, and love.
I know these feelings/thoughts so well right now ~ so crazy fast they grow – spread their wings. Wonderful to see them fly isn’t it? and dream, and believe, live and learn. She is lovely~
A beautiful moment and excellent philosophy =)
When I read these milestones in your life, I am always flung back to those same moments in my life, and often a melancholy feeling covers me like a shroud. They simply grow up so fast!
Kate is beautiful, inside and out from what I can see through your eyes. And you are a good mom!
Beautiful daughter and momma. It is hard to watch them go but needful for their growth. You-re doing a good job!
she’s so beautiful Amber. Just like her mama
@DanishDoll - her first day went great! but she did come home saying she didn’t want to see another french fry for a long time!!
)
@zanyzeal - haha.. the whole strange accent thing, yeah. i think i saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang too many times growing up and always picture that kid snatcher dude who was always trying to lure the kids away.
)
@chulya - you’re a mom of daughters i’ve loved watching and admire!
@ata_grandma - @Richgem - @hananielsgirl - @Elizabethmarie_1 - @babybreathblossoms - @ABAHM - @WasabiBek - @TrentTribe - @DanishDoll - @jennieanne84 - @zanyzeal - @chulya - @thegrabertribe - @lifeisadance - @resolved2worship - @nov_way - @pettybunch - @Susan - @fruitloops115 - ~ thanks to each of you for your words here. this younger generation of girls needs to hear the voices of godly, seasoned women around them speaking encouragement into their lives. as a mom i’m so grateful for that.
My oldest’s first job was at an Arbys. She said the same thing. She was really a light there. I remember one day there was money missing from the register, and the manager told them
one at a time they were going to come into the office, turn out their pockets and let him look through their bags. Then he said, “Accept for Hannah.
I know she wouldn’t steal.” And all the other kids agreed! WOW! I was so proud of her.
@DanishDoll - ~ cool story! you’ve every right to be proud.. what a testimony! and mm.. love me some arbys!
Hey Girlie!!!! Sorry, my email isn’t on my blog – I really thought it used to be and then for some reason I couldnt’ comment here from the ipad. So I had to wait till E brought his laptop home.
Oh well. Hahaha. Such struggles.
Let’s talk sometime. My email is fuhrmon at gmail dot com
Love to catch up and talk all things blogger.
Your girl is you. Totally. Beautiful. It’s a little crazy but fun and wonderful and completely out of control feeling all at the same time. Wish our kids could know each other. Your’s don’t happen to want to go to india for the summer do they?
Love,
Joanna
you write in such a way that i feel it with you. my first two babies…were little for a long time. and then? i’m not sure what happened. where ARE those toothpicks that you mentioned?
crazy how fast we are flying through milestones. so happy for this one…for you and kate…and yes so aware of how it all tugs inside too for us moms. <3
oh yes…all of us moms can totally relate. You two look so much alike! you are both so beautiful..inside & out!
Samuel only had to the age of three with his mom and he remembered….you have had 5x that, I am sure your sweet daughter will remember and invoke conversations when the question arises in her mind. You are so blessed and have been such a blessing in your daughters life and this is by no means the end of the nurturing, the encouraging, the inspiring, the educating…perhaps though the start of the next chapter where it happens on a different level.
@Missionfieldof5 - yes, totally. it just felt like the first big step of many to come!
thanks for your words of encouragement!
She seems a grounded young woman, I’d say you and your husband have done a fine job of raising her. Blessings on her new job!