March 13, 2025 9:22 pm
Applying sunscreen to a two-year old is now a two person job. This morning, I held the wriggling creature, as her dad tried to make her laugh. One hand on her waist, the other trying to hold hair back from her neck, I counted to five as we swiped the deodorant-like stick across her face. In our juggling she paused, “Earrings Mama!”
“Where?” I asked.
“Right there, on the counter.”
“If we get this sunscreen on your face, you can pick a pair.”
She agreed and the wiggling subsided. As she calmed, her focus turned toward selecting the perfect pair of stick-ons, she started humming to herself.
“Which ones do you want Mama?” she asked.
“You pick first.” I said, sucking my teeth as I looked at the clock.
“No, you.”
She insisted. And I succumbed, being given a pair of pink daisies with blue petals.
I remember once seeing a meme that said if a toddler gives you something, you must accept it. They have so little tangible things and most are connected right to their hearts.
Few people saw me out in the world today. I’m not sure if the clerk at the post office noticed my ears. But I knew that little gift was there.
On my walk back to my office, my head full of thoughts of what-ifs and anger about the current state of certain things, I noticed I was getting honked at.
“What the hell?” I thought, looking down the street.
But no, the looming big trash truck wasn’t honking at me.
They were tooting the horn for the gaggle of school children flocking to the fence at recess.
As the blue truck moved towards me at the crosswalk, I watched grown men in green vests delight small children in their green Catholic school clothes.
Tears came to my eyes.
Yes, the world is hurting, but the trash men are honking. The children are laughing. And giving gifts.
We must slow down to notice them. What’s getting in the way of your ability to receive?
I’m still wearing the earrings tonight. Those suckers are surprisingly sticky. If they make it through the night, I’ll be sure to remind my daughter just how grateful for them I am.
Posted by Katie Huey
Categories: 2025
Tags: Anxiety, Beautiful Thing, beauty, Children, Family, Gifts, life, Parenting, Toddlers, writing
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