From Yogurt To 3 Digits

“Look!” my mother and aunts would cry out to each baby in turn as it shook a rattle, stood up, peed in a pot, took the cover off a box and fitted it on again: “Look” in joyous amazement, as if such a thing had never been done before – “what the baby can do!” – Dorothy Dinnerstein.

Conference Time.

I remember when teaching 2nd grade, some parents would sit there while I offhandedly explained their child’s progress with eyes wide open, sometimes mouths too.

“My child can do that?” 

“Yes, your child can add 3 digits, and more!”

“Wow.” and sometimes, ” I remember when they were little …”

Now, I know why these parents were surprised. That student to them was once upon a time a helpless newborn, unable to do anything on their own.

Z is in a stage where she wants to do everything on her own. This is good, but can be challenging at times, especially meal times. Z wants to feed herself yogurt which means her spoon will be placed in her mouth upside down, which means a mess, which further means less yogurt intake into Z.

Anyways, today Z managed to feed herself 3/4 of her yogurt while I contentedly fed myself my own Yoplait. I couldn’t help thinking how far she’s come. Sure, I did have a mess to clean up, but once being a teacher, now as a parent, I can relate to the amazement, wonder, and admiration these parents have for their children who have come so far.

She’s not adding 3 digits yet, but yogurt eating on her own – kindof- is progress, and I too am quietly surprised at her progress.

I am amazed by how she cares for her dolls, feeding them, wiping them, washing them, walking them in her stroller. I am amazed how she talks to them, shares with them, and more.

I am grateful and blessed that she is able to do these things and as a parent, I can feel that wonder. Hoping the rest of my life is full of that wonder, amazement, and admiration, and of course for the other parents out there, the wanna-be parents, and soon-to-be parents!

” O People, if you should be in doubt about the Resurrection, then [consider that] indeed, We created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot, and then from a lump of flesh, formed and unformed – that We may show you. And We settle in the wombs whom We will for a specified term, then We bring you out as a child, and then [We develop you] that you may reach your [time of] maturity. And among you is he who is taken in [early] death, and among you is he who is returned to the most decrepit [old] age so that he knows, after [once having] knowledge, nothing. And you see the earth barren, but when We send down upon it rain, it quivers and swells and grows [something] of every beautiful kind. (Quran 22:05).