“After all,” Anne had said to Marilla once, “I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea.
Many will look at autumn as the season that’s brings on the gray, the frost and the undoing of summer. Here in our household we are seeing autumn through our daughter’s eyes. V sees new colors in leaves, she has only always seen green. We are seeing wonderful pine cones on the ground to collect and bring home. And counting down till we can find big leaf piles to jump in. Autumn for us is a new adventure.
I never thought I could enjoy spending time slowly gathering rocks, sticks and other collection items. Or that the patient waiting to continue our walk would be so calming. Parenting is certainly fast paced enough, without rushing these moments. We tend to rush our autumns in hope of the holiday seasons, and the new year. September comes and goes without so much as a smile, as we race to figure out our Halloween. Pondering this post I thought back to one of my favorite series that I have read in my 20’s and can now understand this quote fully, these are sweetest days.
I am the lucky parent, right now S is off finishing his degree with scholarships and spending as much time “seeing” is with the wonderful technology of today. I’m the parent here for the small moments the moments that I have been guilty of rushing. I was reminded tonight that V has grown, and yes she certainly has. I haven’t often acknowledged this fact of my daughter growing right before my eyes. I am the lucky parent who can skim through the days and not stop to enjoy a pine cone or stick. I’m the oblivious parent for not acknowledging that I can stop and enjoy these moments.
With my autumn this year, I am turning over a new leaf. I am starting to take notice of my wonderful slow moments, and cherish the days I have. I am going to learn to some rock collecting from the best little collector I know.
Until then happy autumn and don’t forget to cherish the slow days.