 | ParentsA not so highly anticipated firstPosted Wednesday, March 12th, 2008 and visited 477 times, 1 so far today by Dana |
The first cry. The first smile. The first laugh. Those first wobbly steps.
Almost every parent celebrates these milestones, and they earn their marks in baby books and in family Christmas cards as we relate the significant events of the year. We celebrate because our baby is growing, showing more of a personality each day. She is more of an individual and her desire for our mere presence and approval are still noticeable. We look at these milestones and know they are growing faster than we really want, but we are not really confronted by just how fast. Maybe that is why we focus so much on these milestones.
Recently, my oldest daughter was allowed to stay home alone for the first time. She had wanted to for some time, but I had never felt comfortable. When we go into town, we are typically gone for hours and town is just too far to rush back in the event of an emergency. When my husband and I had to pick up the car from the shop, however, we realized that we had an opportunity. We would only be gone for 45 minutes. It wasn’t that far. And our neighbors were home if anything should happen.
My daughter was ecstatic. My husband and I were nervous. We piled rules on her and started going through scenarios to let her know what to do in every possible one. We were anxious parents leaving their baby alone. She was excited to finally gain a privilege unique to her because of her age and level of maturity. We left and tried not to call home too many times.
When we got home, we discovered she had done her chores and spent some time coloring while listening to Swiss Family Robinson. My little girl had taken the responsibility that had been given her and lived up to the expectations placed upon her. It didn’t really surprise me, but this milestone was met with more sadness than I would have guessed.
After all, it wasn’t all that long ago that she smiled for the first time. And now already she is showing evidence of the young woman she is becoming. The one that is going to one day move out of the house to begin her own family.
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March 12th, 2008 at 2:54 pm Subscribed to Comments
*hug* Dana, what a blessing it is that you’ve taught your daughter to be a responsible, wise (little) woman.
AG’s last blog post..Mary
March 12th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Wow, Dana. I can’t even begin to start to think of my kids being able to stay on their own (and yet it would make babysitting easier!). What a great testimony that she exceeded expectations and a good sign of things to come.
March 12th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Great story, we’ve got a daughter who will be able to man the troops in two or three more years. Sad but exciting! I can’t believe she’s that old already!
Glad your little girl successfully handled this “first”!
Mary’s last blog post..More Daylight, Less Sleep
March 12th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Aah! Don’t make me think about leaving her in charge. Not yet!
Dana’s last blog post..Passing stereotypes as fact
March 13th, 2008 at 9:37 am
What a heart-warming story of parents and a daughter who not only trust but also respect one other.
God will grant many more firsts for all of you, and your nervousness will also be marked with excitement.
Claudia’s last blog post..A Small Thing To Make Him Feel Loved
March 13th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I can so relate….my kid shows the kind of maturity/steadiness that you’d expect in someone twice her age. The years go by soooo quickly……
Barbara
Barbara Ling’s last blog post..Getting slapped upside the headed courtesy of your pitifully dull blog writing voice
March 14th, 2008 at 12:29 pm Subscribed to Comments
Aw. I’m gonna cry. Y’all have your little (and not so little) ones… My womb is yet barren!
Eh, God’ll give me kids someday. You enjoy your blessings (kids) from God.
AG’s last blog post..Mary
March 17th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Barbara, you’re right. I can’t believe what my oldest are already doing and they believe that they can do anything. And I’m constantly remarking at how our youngest does some things that our oldest never did when they were one.
AG, it’ll come in God’s timing. He does everything perfectly!
March 17th, 2008 at 11:52 am Subscribed to Comments
I know He does. I’m just no good at being patient.
AG’s last blog post..Mary
March 17th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
How many of us are? I think this could be a way for God to teach you patience?
March 17th, 2008 at 1:31 pm Subscribed to Comments
I mean… I’m very patient… I’ve learned that lesson already… I swear.
AG’s last blog post..Mary
March 18th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
“I’m patient, I just want it now!”
I was reading in my devotions (in a book called Experiencing God Workbook: Knowing and Doing the Will of God, Member Book, Updated (aff)) just last night that when God is silent on a topic either there’s sin or, like in the case of Job, God’s getting ready to reveal Himself in a big way. I mean, there are a lot of people in the Bible that didn’t bear children until late in life, or under special circumstances.
And I have personal experience with this. My parent’s friends (and former church youth pastor) couldn’t have a child. They prayed about it for the longest time, and eventually decided that God wasn’t going to bless them that way, so they started in a foster program, and then tried to adopt. What happened? They were in their late 40s when all of a sudden they conceived a daughter naturally!
What we don’t know is God’s timing, and what He’s prepared for you between now and then. And while it may be difficult to wait, as you know with your waiting for your husband, it’s worth it in the end.