THE PARENT”S LITTLE LIST OF LETTING GO*

 Baby is born.
Baby sleeps through the night.
Baby bites.
Baby crawls.
Baby turns 1.
Baby stops sleeping through the night.
Baby pees in potty.
Baby throws binkies in trash.
Baby starts kindergarten.
Baby stops sleeping through the night.
Baby’s first drop-off.
Baby’s first text.
Baby loses first tooth.
Baby’s first career plan.
Baby stops sleeping through the night.
Baby’s first true love.
Baby’s last Barbie.
Baby’s first head lice.
Baby’s second true love.
Baby’s first first-place.
Baby stops sleeping through the night.
Baby says, “Mom, I like your deodorant. Can you get me some?”

Baby is always right on schedule.*Not so little. Never ever gone.

Last week as I was scrolling through recent posts on Cheerio Road; I felt a broad smile cross my face as I recognized the above post of hers. I clicked on the comments section and sure enough- there I was- the newly minted mother of a two month old recently diagnosed with Down syndrome recognizing a gleam of light and inspiration in another mother’s worldly words. I’ve always enjoyed Maezen’s words and had read her book Momma Zen when Zuzu was a little bundle. I was glad to find a continued connection to something I loved and a momma’s view whom I found comfort in the past and now could still relate with my situation. I can’t even begin to tell you how normalizing that was for me at that moment. I had just returned to work and was spending my days wondering quite frankly how the Quail might compare to the other babies in her class- would her classmates and teachers accept and love her? Would she fall behind and have a difficult time? Would she be happy there and really benefit as our dear EI Jodi had predicted she would?

When I read my comment to the post written 6 months ago I feel like going back and patting that newly minted momma on the back and telling her good job for seeing the truth in the above words for the Quail. You wanted  this to be true and in a few months you will know that it is down to the very core of your heart. Just hang in there. You become your thoughts.

What a gift her words were then and what a gift to feel them again. Thank you Maezen.