Monday, October 01, 2007

Butterfly Bush

I spent more hours than I care to remember worrying that I would miss something as a working mom. I hadn't realized how much I would want to be home, or just how quickly it all goes. I've learned to make things happen for myself, whether it's been to negotiate the ability to work from home part time or setting aside the laundry to go outside and pick clovers. We've only got these girls once and I am determined to make it count.

The other day we were outside, the girls were toddling around on the patio while I watered the plants. Briar was flitting about picking buds from the edges of the mums while Avery shadowed me wanting to drink from the hose. We'd been outside for about ten minutes when I bent down and handed Avery the hose, kinking the rubber to slow the flow while she held it with delight in front of her face. Droplets of water clung to her eyelashes and the heaviness made her shake her head giggling. I looked over at Briar, as she knelt beneath our butterfly bush. Two butterflies were dancing overhead and I called out to her, "Briar, honey, look at the butterflies! They're dancing with you!"

She stood up slowly and looked around, at first the butterflies started to fly away and the three of us watched them, disappointed. Briar lifted one hand as Avery whispered, "Buh-fly" and they came back, fluttering in and toward Briar and then back up. For several minutes she stood beneath the bush while those butterflies flirted with her. Avery waved the hose and drops of water sent the blossoms on the bush bouncing.

It was a moment I would have missed if I hadn't stopped to kneel and play.

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14 comments:

flutter said...

ooohhhh. "Buh-fly" just made my heart burst.

dawn224 said...

no kidding!

BetteJo said...

Just incredible! Moments to be captured forever.

I must admit though, for a second when you said you looked over at Briar - I thought you had accidentally un-kinked the hose and sprayed your little one in the face! That's what I would have done, totally. Not good when distracted! LOL!

Colleen @AMadisonMom said...

I read this and just sat for a second taking a deep breath. Such a beautiful moment captured.

Anonymous said...

awww so sweet! I am so glad you did not miss that moment!

Girlplustwo said...

i sometimes think of how many moments i miss like that and i want to cry.

Cheryl said...

So precious.

karla said...

And what a precious moment it was.

iheartchocolate said...

Truly beautiful moment. I am so glad you shared this. I need to remember what is important. We get so distracted and overwhelmed with house stuff, the kids are why we are even here. (at home)

Janet said...

You know, a lot of moms who are at home full time miss these sorts of moments because they aren't paying attention; because they don't stop to play.

Working, or not, you will always have these moments with your children because you are keenly aware of how beautiful they are and because you are "determined to make it count."

Sweet story.

Christine said...

what a glorious image.

Occidental Girl said...

That was lovely.

I have a hard time dropping laundry to let go and play. Dropping the litterbox cleaning? No problem!

painted maypole said...

magic

Amy Y said...

Thank you for that reminder. :)