to my daughter
December 13, 2014 § 4 Comments
Lately I hover a little closer over your words, gathering sentiments like keepsakes, holding them tightly with a tenderness for the heart and mind who weaves poetry into unapologetic declarations of self.
Two recent favorites, quickly scribbled against the pages of remembering before the memories are muddled with time.
First, something from your school days. I treasure this fragment for the unapologetic honesty of your truth. During conferences your classroom teacher suggested that practice makes perfect when addressing an area of concern. As she extended examples to support the potential of progress within the exercise of practice you interrupted her well-intentioned rote message of success with contradictory evidence, assuring her that you were quite consistently horrible at the task in question. I wish you could have seen how you strengthened your posture; sitting taller in your confession of self, your eyes bright with accountability for your imperfections. May you always see struggles with humor and effort with ownership.
Second, a snapshot of home. So often the furnishings of our daily life are invisible to our experience. We move through the days without considering the presence of comfort or the distraction of inconveniences. In casually discussing the possibility of replacing our family table with another shape or finish to hide the unforgiving wear, you sprang passionately to defend its permanence, clinging to the scars as witnesses to our story with a fierceness that promised to guard our individual imperfections with the same measure of loyalty and honesty. I hope you will always see beauty in broken corners and memories in lines etched across time.
However uncertain you may feel of the world around you, the surety of self you carry in unextraordinary moments is exceptional. I hope you begin always, in each endeavor, from this place of self that claims imperfections with love.
To the Moon and Back,
Mom
scribblechic 
This really touched me ! Words with the best sentiment !
Thank you, Divya!
I’ve been out of touch. But glad I checked back in. Lovely, as always. We had a similarly interesting discussion about our kitchen table recently. I never knew there could be such attachment to something the kids seem to take so for granted.
I love the idea that these staples of our everyday experiences are treasured for the company of loved ones and shared memories that lend sentimental worth over material value.