Finding Love in the Small Things
A Reflection on Life's Quiet Miracles
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I write letters to my son, Myles, sharing my journey as a first-time dad and spreading the love I didn't experience myself. If you’ve been here before — thank you for coming back. If you’re new here, below are some good places to start:
This week, I am sharing a poem. I find that when I write poems to Myles, they ground me and remind me why I started writing to him in the first place. After two heavy letters over the past two weeks, I wanted to take time to notice the small things—the things I often take for granted. I invite you all to the comment section to take a brief pause and reflect on something small that we don’t often notice.
As always, thank you for being here.
Finding Love in the Small Things
16 Months
Dear Myles,
I’ve been thinking about the small things this week—
Like the smile that comes across my face when your mother asks me for something, and I know exactly where it is.
How every cherry carries a potential tree right in its pit.
When you pinch the folds of my belly, reminding me that what’s there now hasn’t always been.
Or when everyone looks up, no matter where we are, we’re all gazing at the same moon.
The books we read to you are finally starting to make sense.
You know how to sign for please, sorry, and more.
Eggs at every breakfast, and the lights outside stay on through the night.
Oh, how small moments become big ones.
Did you know there were times when I was young, we struggled to keep the lights on?
When I had no backyard—just concrete?
But still, we had each other. We had joy.
It’s not what we have, but how, in the lack, we still have each other other.
We still find love.
Do you know how small moments are created?
I remember the nights we used to cry for you,
And now, here you are—
Making strides, chasing balls, reaching for me,
Angry that you have to brush your teeth, calling me Daddy.
Here you are, collecting acorns on our walks,
Leaving them at the front porch and waving to let them know you’ll be back.
See, this week I’ve been thinking about the small things—
From the beauty of waking up with tired eyes but still getting to see you smile,
To making s’mores as a family over our fire pit.
How I once dreamed of the things I have now.
This week, I’ve been taking stock,
Resting in the beauty of you learning the hardest thing ever—
Learning to be human.
I love you and there’s nothing you can do about it
Love,
Daddy
Appreciation Time: Thank you, Alyssa, for signing up to be a paid subscriber. Alyssa, the creator behind La La Librarian, makes music and movement videos, read-alouds, and storytimes for kids. We love her interactive songs and videos!
In this episode, Alyssa even helped my wife, Maya, find some books about Apples for Myles! Thanks , Alyssa😉
If you can’t commit to a monthly subscription, but still want to support Myles’ college plan, here is my Buy Me a Coffee page.
And if you are on Substack, please restack this letter and recommend it so I can share this love with the world.
Let me know your thoughts:
What’s something you’re grateful for?
This line just really hit me in its perfection. I can see little Myles waving.
"Here you are, collecting acorns on our walks,
Leaving them at the front porch and waving to let them know you’ll be back."
“What’s something you’re grateful for?”
the grace to accommodate other opinions even if they oppose mine.