Daughters—More than pink bundles

When we were expecting our 1st child over 34 years ago, I couldn’t get the idea of a daughter out of my head.  I yearned for the baby to be a girl.  My husband wanted the same thing and when on June 2nd we welcomed our beautiful baby Amy into our lives we were blissfully happy.  I remember bringing her home from the hospital and sitting in our bedroom, where we had temporarily placed the crib, rocking her in the chair Jim had bought me not long after we were married, and gazing star struck at this incredibly perfect baby I held in my arms.  I thought of whom I wanted her to be and actually pictured what she’d look like when she was grown.  It was a moment that for me telescoped into the future and gave me hope for the years she would be growing up.  I was never disappointed!  She has grown into one of the most lovely and caring young women I’ve ever known. 

When we found we were expecting our 2nd child, we both thought a boy would be nice and the Dr led us to believe that the baby was a boy.  We picked out girl names but didn’t think we’d use them.  So we were surprised when Stacey joined us.  Surprised but not disappointed.  She was just as beautiful as her sister and brought us so much joy.  I didn’t have that long look into her future that I had experienced with her sister because I was just too busy trying to take care of two babies under two.  We shared lots of long nights together though and I was sure that this determined little baby was going to do well in the future.  She has and I am amazed by her life.

So the years passed and I loved my little girls and a little brother joined him, just as much a joy, but that’s another story.  I sewed frilly dresses, did the bows, the pink, the purple, and all the little girly things that come with girls and it was fun!  I loved it.  I never tired of doing their hair or making sure they were as girly as possible.  The years sped by and they drifted from being little girls to preteens and teenagers, and some of the years weren’t so easy, but they certainly weren’t hard.

Then before it seemed possible,I was watching them marry and have children of their own.  It was bittersweet seeing the child disappear and the woman emerge.  However, life is a circle and with every new place in the arc there are blessings.

I am so glad I have daughters.  We share so much and always seem to enjoy each other company.  Recently after despairing for my oldest daughter’s health and seeing her miraculously healed, we went away for the weekend.  We spent three days learning about each other and sharing dreams and spending money and pampering each other and it was wonderful.  Little girls are fun for a little while but grown daughters are friends for always and it’s wonderful when your daughters begin to see you as more than their mom but also a person and treat you that way too. 

I am so thankful for my daughters and if either of you read this, you are my favorite women.  Thanks for belonging to me!