Thanks for being here as always brother. I have an idea I want to tap you in for. I do not know exactly when but I think you will love it. When I am ready I will let you know.
Marc, you’ve hit on the most extraordinary part of being a parent for me, which is the surprise of being revered so completely by a small human being. It is the honor of a lifetime to be looked at the way they look at us. Beautifully put.
You are experiencing a revelation I think - and you will have more - the astounding concept of time passed and time passing even as you watch something or someone so very beloved it causes pain.
It’s a blessing. Unbelievable as that may sound.
Bless you and your beautiful wife and beautiful son.
I miss those days with my kids. Reading your words reminds me that I will also miss the days I am in right now. My kids show their love for me much differently these days - less enthusiastically yet I know there is magic here too.
Thanks for the nudge to track the love as my bigger ones orbit in and out of my day today.
Love this, Marc. Such precious moments, and now you've immortalized them in poetry. (:happy sigh:)
I miss my kids playing in giant puddles after days of rain. I'm cherishing my mother-in-law, and praying she recovers from a spate of health setbacks. She is the age of my father when he passed, but she's always seemed so strong. As for feeling like the luckiest person alive...may I once again share a post? Apologies if the last thing you want is more to read... https://elizabethbeggins.substack.com/p/staying-afloat
I miss the neat optimism of my son when he was five. We lived in a noisy part of town then, and I remember waking up with his face over mine saying, "Mom, did you get a free bus wake up?"
He's still a neat guy -- all grown up -- but doesn't come out with those kinds of gems so much anymore.
So many beautiful images in this poem, tiny and potent like a toddler’s fist. Thank you for adding this perspective to my morning, while my teens stay late in their beds: “by the time you read this it’ll be a different day.” Truth!
Those small moments are so precious and they go away so fast. Something I’m cherishing:
My oldest pronounces words that start with th- with an f sound (like, “I fought so!”) and my husband keeps correcting him, but I imagine a day he won’t anymore so I let it ride.
My youngest likes to go to the fridge and get whatever she wants without abandon while I’m on zoom meetings and can’t easily stop her. Last time she helped herself to a glass of creamer that spilled everywhere and while it was annoying then, I know hearing her little feet scurrying to the kitchen is something I’ll miss.
This made my heart small because I know your babies. I can here his voice and see her smile. I feel so lucky to be experience this. It's so hard Welly, but also beautiful. Both can be true.
I found myself looking at my almost 11 year-old baby the other day and remembering all his littleness. Where has it gone??!!
Scaling the couch like it's a mountain, dropping the earth in his hand, even if it's just a toy. Their world is so immediate. Their world is what's in front of them and only what's in front of them, and to drop that for you? It's a miracle, really.
There are those who are willfully ignoring and those who just don’t look closely. We have to love our children a hundred times harder to make up for all the love they’ll miss from the world.
It's the small moments that matter most. Those are the ones you miss when they are grown and no longer lift their arms for "uppy" because they are now taller than you are now.
My baby has taught me just how complex our emotional states can be: how we can hold such depth of multitudes at any given time. I am grieving and celebrating with the entire fullness of my heart every time I look at her perfect little face. Okay, go need to have a cry now (again)! I think what I love best about your work is that you capture so perfectly how anyone who has ever loved a child feels. Which is such an amazing gift because it is so FUCKING HARD to describe it!
Sri, the range of emotions that happens within a day is exhausting within itself. Sometimes I have to write myself into loving these difficult moments beucuse I know it’ll all be gone one day (not sure if that makes sense). Thank you for your kind words ❤️
This alll caught in my throat & just sat there for a while as swirling emotions of love, gratitude, & preemptive grief for the way time moves. In my maiden phase still & doing the same thing as I approach motherhood. Days like today are almost gone. & I love them just as I love the vision of what is to come. And then before I know it, I will be holding my baby breathing in the moment into the deepest parts of my soul. ♥️🙌🏼
I also miss the days when I left our car doors unlocked at church so people could sneak old phones, radios, and other junk into the car because they knew how much my son enjoyed taking things apart. Of course, I always locked the car doors during zucchini season so we wound have enough room inside to drive home.
You got me tearing up bro 😭
Those moments are mundane but filled with a sweetness that, once gone, can only remembered.
I appreciate the reading too 👏🏽
Thanks for being here as always brother. I have an idea I want to tap you in for. I do not know exactly when but I think you will love it. When I am ready I will let you know.
I’ll be here when you’re ready my guy ✊🏽
Marc, you’ve hit on the most extraordinary part of being a parent for me, which is the surprise of being revered so completely by a small human being. It is the honor of a lifetime to be looked at the way they look at us. Beautifully put.
Thank you, Isabel. I can't believe he is turning one. I was looking at videos and pics last night and was almost in tears. Is this grief?
You are experiencing a revelation I think - and you will have more - the astounding concept of time passed and time passing even as you watch something or someone so very beloved it causes pain.
It’s a blessing. Unbelievable as that may sound.
Bless you and your beautiful wife and beautiful son.
He’s 23 now; I miss his hugs. 🥺
It baffles me he’ll be that old one day!
But still your little boy, I bet.
I was having a great day until I read this, now I want to weep 😂
Beautifully written, thank you for sharing ♥️
Charlotte, thank you for being here 🥹❤️
I miss those days with my kids. Reading your words reminds me that I will also miss the days I am in right now. My kids show their love for me much differently these days - less enthusiastically yet I know there is magic here too.
Thanks for the nudge to track the love as my bigger ones orbit in and out of my day today.
This reminded me to keep
Holding on to all the moments. Thank you, Allison.
Love this, Marc. Such precious moments, and now you've immortalized them in poetry. (:happy sigh:)
I miss my kids playing in giant puddles after days of rain. I'm cherishing my mother-in-law, and praying she recovers from a spate of health setbacks. She is the age of my father when he passed, but she's always seemed so strong. As for feeling like the luckiest person alive...may I once again share a post? Apologies if the last thing you want is more to read... https://elizabethbeggins.substack.com/p/staying-afloat
Thank you for putting your work back on my radar ❤️
I miss the neat optimism of my son when he was five. We lived in a noisy part of town then, and I remember waking up with his face over mine saying, "Mom, did you get a free bus wake up?"
He's still a neat guy -- all grown up -- but doesn't come out with those kinds of gems so much anymore.
It seems we really seem to lose something when we grow older!
So many beautiful images in this poem, tiny and potent like a toddler’s fist. Thank you for adding this perspective to my morning, while my teens stay late in their beds: “by the time you read this it’ll be a different day.” Truth!
Appreciate you for reading Tara!
Those small moments are so precious and they go away so fast. Something I’m cherishing:
My oldest pronounces words that start with th- with an f sound (like, “I fought so!”) and my husband keeps correcting him, but I imagine a day he won’t anymore so I let it ride.
My youngest likes to go to the fridge and get whatever she wants without abandon while I’m on zoom meetings and can’t easily stop her. Last time she helped herself to a glass of creamer that spilled everywhere and while it was annoying then, I know hearing her little feet scurrying to the kitchen is something I’ll miss.
This made my heart small because I know your babies. I can here his voice and see her smile. I feel so lucky to be experience this. It's so hard Welly, but also beautiful. Both can be true.
Just realized Myles is almost 1 ☺️ time flies
It's wild isn't it?
I found myself looking at my almost 11 year-old baby the other day and remembering all his littleness. Where has it gone??!!
Scaling the couch like it's a mountain, dropping the earth in his hand, even if it's just a toy. Their world is so immediate. Their world is what's in front of them and only what's in front of them, and to drop that for you? It's a miracle, really.
Miracle indeed. It makes what is happening so much more harder emotionally. Has the world forgotten these small children?
There are those who are willfully ignoring and those who just don’t look closely. We have to love our children a hundred times harder to make up for all the love they’ll miss from the world.
It's the small moments that matter most. Those are the ones you miss when they are grown and no longer lift their arms for "uppy" because they are now taller than you are now.
I am trying to imagine this little person being the same height as me. I know it'll happen. Part of me doesn't want to accept it!
It doesn't come quickly. Although my youngest was 10 when I became the shortest person in my family. 🤣😭
🫶
❤️
My baby has taught me just how complex our emotional states can be: how we can hold such depth of multitudes at any given time. I am grieving and celebrating with the entire fullness of my heart every time I look at her perfect little face. Okay, go need to have a cry now (again)! I think what I love best about your work is that you capture so perfectly how anyone who has ever loved a child feels. Which is such an amazing gift because it is so FUCKING HARD to describe it!
Sri, the range of emotions that happens within a day is exhausting within itself. Sometimes I have to write myself into loving these difficult moments beucuse I know it’ll all be gone one day (not sure if that makes sense). Thank you for your kind words ❤️
I totally understand what you mean. Just hang on and you’ll be through it to the other side. And then of course, you’ll miss it. 🤦♀️
This alll caught in my throat & just sat there for a while as swirling emotions of love, gratitude, & preemptive grief for the way time moves. In my maiden phase still & doing the same thing as I approach motherhood. Days like today are almost gone. & I love them just as I love the vision of what is to come. And then before I know it, I will be holding my baby breathing in the moment into the deepest parts of my soul. ♥️🙌🏼
Zoe I’m
So excited for you! Thank you for being here. The days go by slow but the weeks fly by. Those baby breaths, I use to count them!
🥹♥️🫠 glorious precious life.
I miss those tiny Levi’s!
I also miss the days when I left our car doors unlocked at church so people could sneak old phones, radios, and other junk into the car because they knew how much my son enjoyed taking things apart. Of course, I always locked the car doors during zucchini season so we wound have enough room inside to drive home.
Haha I love that!