People always say: blink and you’ll miss it. But what they didn’t know is that you were there all along.
From the very beginning you were standing in the darkness, holding the squishy hands, pulling on the tiny socks, brushing the downy hair. You blinked—but you certainly didn’t miss it. If anything, you did your best to blink more slowly, hoping that in doing so, you’d also slow down time.
With every breath, every blink, you were there.
It just all seems a little blurry right now. Maybe because time in and of itself tends to feel like a blur when it passes. Or maybe it’s just the fogginess of sleep deprivation, blurring your vision as you try to blink away the exhaustion. But even now, as your baby stands tall, walking a few steps ahead, you’re still there.
As life has moved beyond onesies and talk of sleep routines to philosophical discussions about Spiderman, the breadth and depth of the universe or why you thought it was a good idea to torture your toddler by dishing up dinner on the wrong coloured plate—your blinks have become precious moments to take pause, often masking your laughter or concealing your frustration.
It’s a slog, a shit-show and an exercise in sheer delight, but as you raise these kids in between your blinks, your hope is, always, that their blinks are full of joy. That their blinks remain full of wonder and that if they ever feel the need to blink their eyes in fear, they’ll reach for you. From their vantage point you’re still there, with eyes wide open—ready to catch them.
No matter where life takes you, or them, please don’t be scared to blink. I promise you won’t miss a thing.
So tender and true. If you are present — even when sleep deprived — you are there building memories, trust and a loving bond.
Beautiful Ash! 🥹💕