Comments on: Moment of truth by the tub

By: Sunday School for Sentences #9: Thread the Grommets, Lace the Corset, Feed the Rabbits | Cleavage by Kelly Diels.

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 07:04:15 +0000

[...] Lola’s sighing surrender to love and rage felt like emotional organization, to me. I rocked her while she sorted her passions and catalogued her surprise at the fierceness of her feelings. [...]

By: Leigh Danforth

Leigh Danforth — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:53:44 +0000

A beautiful story Lindsey. What a tender and immeasurably wise moment between mother and child. I was reminded of a recent ‘awakened’ experience I had with Orion, also at bath time. He loves to take what we call ‘deep-candle-baths’ with me. I was sitting in the hot, bubbly bath and it was filling way up. He was undressing and getting ready to slowly sink into the tub with me. As we waited there together for the last few moments of the running faucet, I asked Orion what his favorite thing to do in life is right now, figuring he might say scootering or riding his bike or making paper airplanes. He took a few moments of adorable pondering complete with fingers at his cheek and he replied “taking a deep candle bath”. And in that moment I felt an opening of my heart and an awareness of his wisdom. His favorite thing in life was what was happening in that very perfect moment. I felt in the presence of a teacher, and also felt my own sense of presence swell.

Love,
Leigh

By: love, fury, lola | Cleavage by Kelly Diels.

love, fury, lola | Cleavage by Kelly Diels. — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 07:04:58 +0000

By: Connected « Cafe Cevraini

Connected « Cafe Cevraini — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:35:40 +0000

[...] they will always carry a piece of her in their hearts. I read Lindsey’s post this week about supporting her daughter who is growing up so fast. It reminded me how quickly they will be grown up and how much we hope [...]

By: Christine LaRocque

Christine LaRocque — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 23:52:25 +0000

Intense, so much wrapped up in this piece. I’m the oldest, and because my sister and I lost our mother so young, had to be more in control than I should ever have had to at such a young age. It’s hard to always be good, to be the big sister. I’m not good at it at all. But she has you, and you are wonderful and really everything she needs. She’s learning that you can be her safe place, but that also you don’t sugar coat things. It’s an important lesson we can give our kids I think, to let them know it’s okay to just be unhappy, frustrated and out of control sometimes. It’s healthy to validate those feelings and have a safe place to share them.

By: MDTaz

MDTaz — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:44:58 +0000

I love that you did not to try to talk her out of her feelings. Sometimes it’s just this very simple and dignified acknowledgment that helps us find a way to take those big deep breaths for ourselves.

By: Shawna Cevraini

Shawna Cevraini — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:18:32 +0000

Of course, I am crying again reading this post. You are such a wonderful mother. To take that moment and be sure that Grace knew that she was understood and that you sometimes feel the same. You are special.

I think it is so important for our kids to know that we understand. We may not be able to “fix” everything, and that’s OK. But we understand. We believe in them. We love them, no matter what.

Thank you Lindsey for sharing this beautiful story. Your Grace is so much like my Becca. I see her here too.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:53:52 +0000

I’ve had this conversation with Jamis more times than I can count. He is the oldest in our family, but he is also the oldest of 9 grandchildren. For years he has been reprimanded for playing too rough with his cousins and I just always feel so badly for having to reprimand. But what to do? You can’t allow him to nearly drown his cousins, either? It’s tough, being the oldest. You are expected to be old enough but you are still growing up.

Beautiful post, Lindsey.

By: Eva @ EvaEvolving

Eva @ EvaEvolving — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:09:19 +0000

Lindsey, thank you for another beautiful piece that will stay in my heart for a long while. I see myself in you and Grace. I recognize the agony of being the oldest, the strength of emotion and determined attempts to control it. My heart aches for Grace and the burden on her little shoulders. And your words, your actions were such a beautiful work of mothering art. You handled the moment with such grace.

This – this beautiful and heartwrenching moment – this is how I would hope to be as a mother.

By: Liz

Liz — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:21:36 +0000

I have to thank you for this, sincerely, because in our case, it’s the opposite. I am the youngest and I was always getting “abused,” so when my oldest is too rough on my little one, I jump down his throat. I hate when my little one is pushed or cast aside or hit, because I remember those feelings of frustration. And your post just made me stop and think about some important stuff. Thank you.