As New Year's Eve approached this year, somewhere in the hubbub of the season Emma learned about "the ball dropping." She seemed fascinated by the idea and asked multiple times in the days leading up to New Year's if she could stay up to watch the ball drop on TV on New Year's night. I finally consented. (What Mom of a 6 year old DOESN'T let her child stay up until midnight the weekend before they return to school after winter break, right??) ;)
We stayed up watching movies, cuddled under a big blanket with our comfy PJ's on. At 11:30 we turned on the New Year's Rockin' Eve show. Still cozy...still cuddling. Still celebrating family togetherness.
The countdown occurred. The ball dropped....the confetti fell...the people on TV kissed (earning "eeeewwwws" from Emma.) All of the above was "perfect," but more was to come.
Just after midnight, neighbors down the street from us started shooting off fireworks. Emma and I grabbed slippers and went outside in our PJs, coats, and wrapped in blankets. We sat in our yard and watched the fireworks (nice show---lasted about 10 minutes!) During the fireworks, Em turned to me and said, "Aren't they beautiful, Mama?" My heart melted....my little girl doesn't call me "Mama" much anymore. The older she gets "Mommy" and "Mom" are the social norm. But when she was sleepy and happy and lost in the moment, it made a perfect moment for me.
(To read about other "perfect moments," check out Lori's blog at Write Mind, Open Heart.)
4 hours ago
9 comments:
What a lovely story! I remember that when I was little, my mama would make homemade doughnuts (fried biscuit dough rolled in cinnamon and brown sugar) and let my sisters and me drink sparkling cider out of "fancy cups." Looking back, those are among my best New Year's memories.
That is so sweet, and what a fun night. I hope 2011 is full of great things for you and your family!!!
Made me cry... Miss you guys bunches as that sweet, precious little girl is growing up so quickly, but so glad to hear that you guys perfectly rang in the New Year! Xoxo to you all.
What a fantastic memory for you and Emma to always carry with you.
School, shmool!
(And thanks for your kind words on my blog today, Alana. XO)
Oh what a sweet and wonderful moment!
This is a beautiful post! Thanks for sharing :)
Neat moms are not so rigid that they never bend the rules: like its ok to take a bite of dessert before eating dinner, walk in puddles on warm days, or fall asleep in your favoriteist Kermit hat & your mom's psychadelic-colors goggles sleep mask. What a neat experience as a six year old this New Year's Eve will be for Emma to remember & treasure. Don't think it will ever again be just a "big pepls" "mom & dad" night to celebrate, however.
You made my heart flutter. I love hearing "mama." What a sweet, sweet moment
So sweet! I'm glad you got to have that moment with Emma. I have to admit - and maybe its a southern thing - but I still call my mom "Mama". Hope you get to hear that name again soon :D
Btw, we definitely need to see about meeting up again. I'm actually thinking of maybe doing something over an entire weekend in Savannah sometime in the spring so some of the people who are a little farther away but want to join us can. What do you think?
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