Marsha Low
Tiny Little Heartbreaks
Posted at 11:30 PM on 07/09/06

The pangs in my chest started months ago, each one wrapped in both sadness and joy.

They came when my baby girl first lifted her head. Again when she first rolled over, crawled, said ma-ma and then da-da, when her gummy grin turned toothy. And now, she's walking.

Lucy became obsessed with walking when she turned 10 months old. In the month since there's been little rest for my aching back when she's awake. She insisted on grabbing my fingers, clumsily making her way through the house. Eventually she learned that to move in a forward direction, her left hand needed to grasp my left, her right my right. To the delight of my husband, she took her first solo steps on the morning of Father's Day. Then finally this week, her confidence soaring, she let go and walked across my bedroom.

Her walk is still marked by stiff knees, questionable balance and upraised arms searching for balance. But when she is triumphant a smile spreads wide across her face and she congratulates herself by clapping her hands vigorously.

I clap and smile too, not just because that's what moms do but because I'm genuinely proud of her accomplishments. But then the pang hits and I can't help but think that this is just another in a string of tiny little heartbreaks that will help mark the rest of my life with my little girl.

Posted by carolyn | 07/15/06 at 8:17 AM

enjoy these days as I remember my daughter and my son mishaps..cause when they become adults motherhood has another role in your life.

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