growing

In these few moments every night after Mia goes to sleep (and before she wakes up again), I get a minute to myself, and thoughts come and go as life was 'pre-baby'. This week, Mia must be going through one of her growth spurts, I could feel her weight increase in my arms, and she's fussing, probably due to all the uncomfortable and unsettling growing pains.

The first year of life, there seems to be so much to catch up, all parts of the body are busy expanding, shaping and transforming. The soul may be old, but the new body still needs to match. I'm reminded that after these first years, when physical growth slows down and because not visible to the naked eye, we often forget and neglect the growing pains of the emotional and spiritual growth. This is a reminder to myself as a new mother, as well as a reminder to my own growing. To honor and acknowledge all the errors, wrong decisions, consequences of those decisions and to learn from them, may be a long-term remedy to all the growing pains, maybe even embrace them. Without leaving room for error, or fearing imperfection, we will never go anywhere, take risks or succeed.

Very often, in these past few days, Mia would whine and complain, and nothing seems to be able to satisfy or make her forget her woes. Another reminder for myself is that after all possible attempts have been tried, it may just be important to be with her in these hard times, letting her know that we're here for her. After all, our parents can not fix the world for us, or shelter us from all the wrongs in life, but the long journey is more joyous when shared with someone who loves you, someone who will embrace YOUR errors and mistakes, moans and groans, and all those imperfections which make us individual. So, here is to all the new little people, may you smooth sail through your first years, surrounded by love.