There are times when we stand tall and proud as mothers, like when we watch our babies take those first steps or hear the sounds of those first spoken words. Each child reaches milestones at his/her own pace and as parents, we are always ready to applaud them as soon as they get there.
But when our children struggle through this process of reaching some of those milestones (that perhaps we’ve seen others reach with such ease) somehow, the reward is even sweeter for us when they finally do get there.
And that sweet reward arrived for me yesterday.
I never fully discussed the long road that my daughter and I have traveled this past year, a road that we are still traveling. At the time, I just wasn’t ready to share it all nor could I find the right words.
And perhaps I still can’t.
I only blogged about it once and it was one of the HARDEST blog posts I’d ever written. Partly because I had no idea of the journey we were about to embark on.
Well, this may not sound like that much to you, but let me tell you, our entire world just changed.
For the first time in nearly three years, my daughter picked up a book ON HER OWN, sat down at the kitchen counter and OPENED it. This particular piece of literature kept her ENGAGED. She may not understand one word on those pages nor does she recognize some of the pictures in that book, but what she just proved to me and herself is that she is showing INTEREST and EXCITEMENT about literacy, something she has never shown before.
Her eyes gleamed with delight as she independently flipped each page, carefully pointing to the colorful pictures and the babbling continued to flow from her lips.
The babbling continued to flow from her lips.
My eyes welled up with water as I reached for my camera, trying to capture this beautiful moment – a milestone that has taken SO much hard work to reach – one that I was so damn proud to witness.
Oh Heather. The emotion dripping here makes me so unbelievably happy for you! I had tears in my eyes for you both. Oh, so so happy.
Congratulations mama. Congratulations precious girl. Hugs.
That is wonderful! Congratulations to you and little girl.
Awww! That’s fabulous, mama!
Heather..I am so happy for you both..watching your child reach any milestone is a special day for any mom. I am just glad u were there to witness in and then share it with us.
Hugs of congratulations.
Fantastic news!
I absolutely 100% get this. And I am SO happy for you! Way to go, Mama! Keep up the good work! You’re doing an awesome job with your daughter.
Great news! Congratulations!
That is wonderful news! I’m so happy for you both!
Isn’t a great feeling to know that all of the hard work of parenting is moving them in the right direction? No matter how small the steps and no matter when they come, they are miraculous each and every time. I still get goosebumps whenever my girls do something that I didn’t realize they were capable of.
That is so wonderful! I got tears in my eyes for you
Doing a happy dance for you in my kitchen!
I was a teacher in my former life, and I so vividly recall the joy in cultivating a love of books in my students.
Multiply that by, like, a gazillion when it’s your own child. So very thrilled for you!
Congratulations! As a monther isn’t it amazing to watch your child break through a wall like that? Your heart must just be singing! Have a wonderful weekend!!!
What a lovely, poignant, thrilling moment!! Soooo happy for you — and your little sweetie!
This is awesome! Congratulations to both of you!
That’s fantastic, congratulations! Thank you for sharing. Have a happy Friday and a great weekend1 (I know you will)
I know exactly what you mean. My oldest son is an avid reader and loves books SO much, every since he was a little baby. At 8 months old, he’d pick his favourite book for me to read to him over and over again and he’d clap his little hands whenever we would finish. My youngest son didn’t have the same interest as his big brother, though. Recently, though, I’ve noticed him going into his room and reading books, flipping through books, on his own, and it always, always warms my heart so much.
Yay for kids who love books and who will embrace reading as they continue to grow!
I have one reader and one who would rather listen to a book while painting or drawing … either way, they get the words, the vocab, the sweet knowledge of the world of fantasy … but when they are both curled up with a book …it warms my heart.
YAY Mom, hang in there!
That’s so wonderful! Thanks for sharing with us.
This is wonderful news!
Hurray! Books are so much fun…glad your little one is finally taking to them. Time shared over books is the best time I spend with my kids. Hands down. I just love sharing their learning and watching them take it all in. Congrats!!
That is so awesome! As an Autism mom, I know exactly what you mean about kids missing milestones and fighting with all you have to get them where they need to be (or can be).
Kudos to your girl!!
so happy for the both of you. i know it’s been a long and tiresome road, but what a proud mama you must be right now!!! Beaming with pride right along with you!
What a wonderful moment. So glad you shared.
OMG you are in for trouble. I too am a an emotional mom. One of my hardest moment was in church when my youngest at 5 read and sang her first hymn in church. I could not contain my tears. She is now 8 and very used to my waterworks. She just looks at me and shakes her head. I tell both my girls that I am just practicing for their graduations and weddings.
What a beautiful story…I also just read your earlier post, too. (which I think I read when you first wrote it). I had no idea you were going through this. My thoughts are with you. And hopefully I’m that mom that gives you a smile or encouragement at the grocery store. I may not always comment but I thoroughly enjoy all your posts.
Oh Heather, what a beautiful moment for you and your daughter. So happy you captured it, not only on video, but here with your loving words.
Wonderful milestone! XO
I’ve been there. I know. So very happy for you!
I’ve been struggling with milestones for my son this year also. I’m so glad your had one to celebrate. Chin up!
How lovely and touching. I’m so happy for you both — thanks for sharing
This is a wonderful post, and congratulations on such a special moment for you and your daughter. I’m so glad that you’ve written about it.
They move at their own pace, don’t they? Very humbling experience, motherhood.
YAY!
And congratulations to the whole family!
I had a little brother that was behind on milestones, it was tough & he had to do a lot of speech therapy for years.
Now?
He’s a straight A student pursuing an undergraduate degree with plans for law school in 2 years!
Awww… my eyes teared up just reading it !!!
Well now I am crying too. Because you know I fully understand. Fully. I have followed you and your daughter’s story with understanding.
I will never forget that when I dropped Jaylen at ABA therapy at 18 months old, and I said, with tears welling up, if you can get him to say mommy it would be the most amazing thing in the world. And by the time he turned 2 he was able to say mommy. He didn’t use it correctly, or often, but he was able to say it. That broke my heart. And slowly, very slowly, over the past 3 years, he has made the most amazing progress. Nothing short of a miracle. We still have a very, very long road ahead, but verbally we are there.
A perfect, perfect moment. Yaya Heather, her journey begins! So much awaits her.
Awww, I know that feeling so well. Everything came so slow with my oldest but it truly does make you appreciate every little thing they are able to accomplish. I’m so glad you are able to appreciate these moments for the gifts that they are. Congratulations on such important progress.
Isn’t it amazing when something like that just “clicks”. My oldest son and I had some really unpleasant struggles over learning to read. I didn’t handle it well–to say the least. But somewhere along the way, he decided it was the right time for him. Now that he’s almost nine, I sometimes have to make him stop reading so he’ll get some sleep–oh the irony!
That is wonderful!!!