Anne has a loose tooth! Two, in fact! The bottom two, which were the first two she ever got! Noticed them the day after Thanksgiving and oh my goodness, I had a moment. Or several. WOW. That hit me hard. Seems so old, like there’s no going back! And I LOVE her little baby teeth, they are so cute and teeny. I took a photo of them while they’re all still intact (they WERE hard-earned, let us say, AHEM) but I can’t believe that they soon will be gone, replaced by “real” teeth. Such a poignant reminder that all of her little girl parts and aspects are slowly– but not slowly enough!– falling away.
The other thing I have been mulling over lately, though, is just how much I love where we are living, not only for how beautiful it is (I know I sound like a broken record on this topic) but because I have — at least for now — something which is rapidly disappearing in our part of the world: a village in which to raise my children. Even though my family is painfully far away from me, and even though many of these friendships I’ve cultivated over the last year are probably only “friendships for a season,” right now they are heaven-sent. All of us live around the playground/green space. We are all in our 30s and 40s and have children 6 and under. We all are in the same stage of life in many ways. We all grew up in different towns and churches but even so we share so much in common, primarily our lives as mothers of young children. Most of us, these half dozen female friends of mine, would like to lose about 20 pounds, would like more time with our husbands or to ourselves, love our kids to pieces and love where we live, and struggle to raise our families in the right ways. We exercise together, drink coffee and commiserate over long nights with babies, talk about husbands and money, trips and families, worries and hopes. We watch each other’s kids for doctor appointments and meetings; text each other when we are at the grocery store to see if anyone needs a gallon of milk or some diapers; borrow a cup of sugar or a winter coat; share meals and talks about faith; care for eacch other’s pets and share tips on parenting, cooking, and bargain-hunting. I LOVE that I have that right now; I know it won’t last forever and it’s the kind of thing one can’t plan or guarantee when moving houses or choosing a neighborhood. I am just enjoying it now, while I have it. Enjoying seeing my children run to any number of mothers or daddies when they want to be picked up or have an applesauce packet opened. I love that we support each other and lean on each other, and all within a few feet. What a gift it is, and I am thankful for my village people.
Wow, that is awesome that you have that support system. That is so huge in the happiness equation.
And I’ve always wondered if kids teeth fall out in order of when they come in- it totally makes sense for it to happen that way.
Man, it IS so awesome. It makes SUCH a difference!!
What a blessing!
I love your village people too! God knew what you needed, He is so gentle to His own.