There is a ton of interest in the Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair, and for good reason. This versatile, attractive and well-made high chair is one of the best baby products on the market. Many parents have questions about the ins and outs of the Stokke Tripp Trapp, and in this post I’ll go over…
In an ideal world, all of our children would love to go to school, love to learn, love to work on their reading comprehension and writing skills, and be effortlessly talented with numbers. As a parent, it’s natural to wonder how to get your child interested in school. In reality, kids sometimes dislike studying. And there…
If you have a young kid, you know the appeal of superheroes. In this gift guide I’ll go over the best Spiderman toys for the superhero fan in your life. Spiderman ranks as one of the all-time classics. Kids today are just as into Spiderman as they were decades ago, so it’s no surprise that…
This weekend it struck me: My daughter, who is just a year old, will never know a world where there hasn’t been a woman in the White House. And until the age of 41, I’ve never known a world where there has. My kids will never live in a country where there hasn’t been a…
A beautiful (short) piece about growing up by my old friend Amanda Symmes. Take a minute and read this. Many of us have younger kids, but if we aren’t here already, we will be. Probably sooner than we think.
We comment on the small stature of sixth-graders
Up ahead and marvel that your sister will soon replace
Those squirts in just a few mere months
And as we groan together at the thought of your sister
And you reunited in school next year
The most brilliant sun rises up from behind the backboard
Of the basketball court ready to slam dunk itself
Onto the day.
As my eyes squint back its beauty
My chest explodes: you too are rising up these days
So fast and so strong,
You are no longer my baby,
And you are not yet a man.
You exit my car with your sleepy eyes hiding out not
Yet ready to join the freckles on your face in being awake
And your backpack bumps along behind you, a burden
Against your wake as you speed walk toward your school
And I see you for just a flash at your high school graduation
And I cry, quick and hard for just only a moment
For it is in this flash that I see;
I see who you will be, I’ve noticed it visible
Right there on you these days
Like a sketch just needing to be traced over
This duality of both baby and man and the
Magic in the middle wedges itself into
My heart
And I decide as the tears subside, that yes
I can hold it all.
I will hold all of that and much more for you.
For you, are my first born,
Yet you are
My Middle Path.
Beautifully written, Amanda. I was right there with you, seeing each scene. Your writing was that descriptive. And the photos weren’t displayed on my phone until I had read the entire piece. They matched the vision that was building, as I read. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Lynda! I am glad you enjoyed it. Sometimes we have these clear moments that involve so many competing emotions…it’s nice to capture it in words when we can 🙂
Have an 11 year old girl. I’m crying with you right now. Thank you for naming my feelings. Is it sublime? Beautiful and terrifying all at once.
Second time around and it still makes my eyes leak.