Jan 13, 2009

Wordful Wednesday


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This edition of Wordful Wednesday is about my youngest daughter Kate and one of the many things that I adore about her.

Kate has always been a very affectionate child.  She loved holding hands, snuggling and giving hugs and kisses.  When she was a toddler and would give us hugs she would wrap her arms around our neck and give us super gentle pats on the back.  Those little pats on the back always melted my heart.

Like most parents, we start off holding our children's hands as they learn how to walk.  Then we hold their hands as we walk through busy parking lots to keep them safe.  We also hold hands just for the pure connection that holding hands can bring.

As Kate got older I realized that holding her hand would eventually come to an end. With each year I knew the time was getting closer and then just after she turned ten it happened.  

We were holding hands as we walked through a parking lot when all of  sudden I felt Kate try to  gently wiggle her hand free from mine.  I looked down at my beautiful ten year old daughter and gave her a knowing look, then I let go of her not so little hand, and the two of us continued into the store side by side.


Lucky for me, holding hands is still an old habit for Kate. She sometimes forgets that holding hands with mom isn't cool and will reach for my hand. For that I am happy, but I know that soon enough, not holding my hand will be her new habit.

I'm going to miss holding her tiny little hand, but I am so thankful for all those years when holding her hand was one of the simple pleasures of life.

************************

Photo story: I took this picture yesterday at the end of our Girl Scout meeting when the girls in my troop link hands and sing "Make New Friends." Kate is in the middle!  

43 comments:

Mrs Anne said...

i love that picture!!

i remember always holding hands with my mom.

your daughters are so lovely!

ox

Sandra said...

She'll come back to ya. My Mama gets all feklempt when i grab her hand while we walk in the mall.

These days... people automatically assume the wrong idea when two women hold hands.

When we were in Italy... ALLL the women held hands... all the time.

She'll grab for yours again... I promise.

Unknown said...

I remember being a youngster and holding hands with my Mom. I also remember how I felt when my oldest was to old to hold hands anymore. I am not looking forward to the day when my Cade outgrows hand-holding.

jori-o said...

I remember that song! "...one is silver and the other's gold"

My 8 year old son doesn't want to hold hands with me. But I guilt him into it. Is that bad? He's just getting too big, too fast!!

I know, I should start saving for his therapy now...

More Than Words said...

Hi there!! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!!

Okay..your story made me want to cry!!!!! My oldest daughter (11) is like that now too!!!!!!!!! They grow up so fast, don't they?????

Great picture, too!

Unknown said...

It is so sad that kiddos grow up! Ugh, life. Odds are, she loves holding your hand as much as you love holding hers. For the reasons you've spoken of, from time to time- i reach out and grab for my Mom's hand when we are together(and I'm 24!). Mostly... it's for me. I never want to forget what that feels like.

Anonymous said...

I love holding hands too and it comes back again when they get older! Yay! Wonderful photos!

The Blonde Duck said...

That's a great picture. Stopping in from SITS again. :)

Brenda said...

That is beautiful. My daughter is 23 and she is still affectionate with me.

Hootin Anni said...

...but, wait!! Our daughter doesn't hold my hand, but there is still a hug and a 'thank you mom' from her when we get together...or on the phone. She'll be 40 this April.

Come on over and visit with me and my very wordful Wednesday post...I just couldn't stop shivering this morning....errrrr, ummmm, chat-at-at-chatting away!!!

Mandy said...

Aww!! Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold! Thanks for the trip back down memory lane!! :)

Great pic, BTW

Deb said...

they just grow up so dang fast. sigh...

Straight to Your Hart said...

These are the moments of growing up that's hard to let go. I love it however, like you, when habits are hard to let go and they come sweetly, and silently back. What a sweetie she is!

Claremont First Ward said...

Was this post supposed to make me misty eyed? Cuz it did......:)

Melissa said...

Oh, I know-what-you-mean!!!! My 2 oldest sons will not hold hands with me anymore....and it's equally as hard (if not harder) to get a hug or kiss from them in public!!

tiarastantrums said...

great photo - and I do not want that day to ever come!!!!

Unknown said...

What a beautiful photograph! And such sweet words.

Please... tell me they won't stop holding my hand! WAH!
(oh and I have boys so it will probably be earlier...) Double WAH!!

Jenners said...

Oh I got a little teary over this! My son is 4 and I love the feel of his little hand in mine. But already as soon as we are safely out of the parking lot, he wrenches his hand out of mind in a bid for independence. "I can walk all by myself, Mommy. We aren't in the parking lot." But he is still such a loving and gentle little boy who still loves to hug and cuddle.

And your Girl Scout mention just took me back in time. We used to sing that same song and hold hands the same way.

I just love your blog! It always brings me such warm feelings (except the other day when your poor daughter went to the ER -- I was so freaked out on your behalf.)

Rachael Schirano \\ Rachael Schirano Photography said...

this a beautiful picture and a beautiful post. touching and heartwarming, it describes the bitter and sweet that goes along with the territory of being mom. loved it!

Jen said...

Ok that just totally made me cry. And what a beautiful picture. I am a little emotional today and that was just so beautiful, I am all choked up.

debi9kids said...

What a sweet post! made me teary eyed :)

I didn't need you to tell me where that pic was taken. I was a girl scout leader with my girls for YEARS and knew as soon as i saw the crossed arms :)

Happy WW!

Rhonda said...

I love that picture.

what a great post! i miss those hand holding days too. At least my older ones will still hug me though. ;)

KatieZ said...

This is so sweet! My oldest daughter was never affectionate. But my son was. He is 9 now and that is all starting to fade. But my 11 month old is so affectionate. She does the hug and "pat" thing too. However she does it to everything so I don't know if it's special that she does it to us or not!

Love the WW!

Angela said...

Cool picture and a great story that touches any mother's heart! My boys don't especially love to hold hands but I do however I don't know what I will do when my oldest stops crawling into my lap!

Wayfaring Wanderer said...

So sweet......I always hated holding hands!! haha

Kathleen W. said...

That's a beautiful photo and a beautiful sentiment. I hope my son holds my hand when he gets older, at least for a few years.

Jenny and the Princess Peonies said...

You aren't supposed to make me cry!

Anonymous said...

Great picture and I love your page!

Michelle said...

Don't worry, you'll hold the little hands of your grandbabies before you know it!

I still remember the Girl Scout song, and I sing it to my boys. Is that acceptable? ;)

Kelly Deneen Raymond said...

That totally made me cry. *sniff*

Anonymous said...

What a great picture. This story totally made me cry!

Amanda said...

My son is only two and I love holding his little hands. Your post really reminds me that in the near future, he won't want to hold my hand. Even now, he's trying to pull it away.

Heidi @ Tayterjaq's Rebels said...

My 9 year old will still hold my hand but I'm sure it won't be that way for long. Her troop still does the friendship circle after their meetings too. It is cute to watch them all try to untangle when they turn around.

Jo-Jo said...

My Cayden gives me those little pats on the back and my Riley just loves holding hands. It makes me sad to know that it will end but I plan on enjoying it all in the meantime.

That is a great photo by the way!

Tara Bennett said...

That girl scout photo is amazing!

MaricrisG said...

The picture look so panoramic and so sweet. I love holding my 4y.o daughters hands too and I'll sure miss it when she stop doing it coz "it's not cool mom!" ugh. Kids!

Maricris
Zen Ventures
Golden Flower Creations

Lindsay said...

Oh no! You're telling me that actually ceases to be?! I better enjoy this, huh?

Tabitha Blue said...

So sweet... I hope my girl holds my hand for a long time!! Great photo!!!

:)
~Tabitha~

freshmommyblog.com

Stephanie said...

I found you thru SITS! AND I LOVE YOUR BLOG!!!

Kelsey said...

Aww thats so sweet. I love hand holding with people I love. I still hold hands with my dad in the parking lots LOL.

Lindsay said...

What a beautiful story! It kind of made me sad, because I have the same feelings. My daughter isn't a huge cuddler, but whenever she gives hugs and kisses it just melts my heart. I try to savor every one, because there will come a day when she won't want to anymore, and it'll be pulling teeth to get just a quick pat on the back.

CC said...

I love the picture and the memories! My kids have never really been into hand holding. Maybe one day...

Jade Bordeaux said...

I almost cried when reading this post. I can so relate, and even though my daughter is only 5,it brings tears to my eyes to know that day is coming. Sometimes when she goes to bed, I have to step out onto the porch (she has a screened in porch that connects to her bedroom) and watch her sleep,to stop myself from crawling in bed with her and holding her hand. She always reaches for my hand in the night if we sleep together, and I too know how dear those little pats on the back are during a hug.Andrea did this also as a toddler, and still does. Why do they have to grow up? I want her to stay 5 forever :(
Beautiful post!

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