Comments
Thank you for sharing this on 5 Minute Fridays. Today is my first time sharing.
"It take guts to be a Mama". Indeed. My Oldest graduated High School last night. Two more boys to go.

"In 5 minutes she will be 18".

Yes. I wish I could slow that clock for the both of us. Hold her close. Thanks for sharing a beautiful post.

xoxo, Claire
#1 Claire @ A Little CLAIREification (Homepage) on 2013-05-31 04:20
My goodness that is the cutest little baby I have ever seen! Such extraordinary eyes. I have no children of my own. I watch my sister's son and my cousin's children and the children of friends all grow up. I can see how they struggle to let them go out in the world. My two nephews are 15 and 16 and I can see the men they will become taking form. It's beautiful and sad at the same time. Because I still wish that they were still tiny babies who got cuddled by Auntie Tam. Beautiful post.
#2 Tam (Homepage) on 2013-05-31 05:23
Another heart wrenching post. You nailed my feelings exactly, when I too didn't want to let go, when my son exlaimed he was going to Africa at 18 to join you and the rest of the crew. All I wanted to do was hold him tight and never let him go. There are still days like that with when my 5 now young adult children go off to live there lives. A Mama's love can't be explained but it can be understood by other Mama's. Your an amazing Mom Ali and I don't have to imagine your love for Zoe, I can hear and feel it in your writing and see it in your photos. Be blessed as you prepare to sail your family away to your next adventure.
#3 Joanne Hewlett on 2013-05-31 08:07
Your post reminded me of this poem, On Children, by Kahlil Gibran. It gives me a little comfort when I've been thinking about this a little too much. :-)

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
#4 MaggieO on 2013-06-01 15:28
This is the most beautiful thing I've read in a very long time. I've been sitting here, reading it over and over, bawling those ugly tears and praying desperately that I can let this all be true. Thank you for sharing this.
#4.1 Ali C. on 2013-06-02 11:42
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