This was a lovely read. My two sons are are 15 and 20, and I do sometimes find myself feeling very nostalgic and missing the days when I was their best friend. Funny how now they're mine. :) Great read, thanks for sharing!
You’re speaking to me, quite directly! I need to be writing it all down. And yet when I have a moment, I’m writing *other things* down. Which seem quite important in terms of jobs and things but of course, there will be nothing more important when I look back in a few fast years than these moments with Lois.
It’s so hard when you’re tired and “in it.” People always say the days drag and the years fly…but gosh it’s the truth. Snuggle that gorgeous little girl for me!!
Wow, this is so beautiful and I’m grateful to have found you as a new mother myself. I came to writing at a different time than you — with the birth of my son — and this is the type of nostalgia and inspiration that keeps me writing every day now, even after the sleepless nights (of which there are still many). Thank you for this. Your writing voice is beautiful ❤️
Thank you so much for reading and your kind words, Miriam. I admire your dedication to your writing even at such a very busy, hands-on, and exhausting stage. It's amazing what we can do when we are inspired. Keep writing! You are creating a time capsule of words as you go.❤️
My boys are one and three. I'm in the thick of it but trying to soak it up as much as I can while they are little despite lack of sleep. I am passionate about memory keeping but not as good at keeping a written record. I'm trying to do that now on Substack. I have so many photos and videos. I have a private instagram where I store photos from every month and then have videos in my Instagram stories time and date stamped and archived. I also put home videos together that I put in a private YouTube playlist. They are my boys favourite thing to watch on tv ❤️
It sounds like you are doing a tremendous job of preserving all of your memories. Well done! You will have so much to look back on, and how absolutely adorable that your boys love watching all those videos already. So cute. Thank you so much for reading and commenting.❤️
I am "revisiting" writing again in my - let's say I'm a wee bit older than you ;) Nostalgia in midlife- yes for sure. I thought it was just me! My son will 17 soon and I am nostalgic for his childhood as well. I've noticed he is now too! He has become nostalgic over songs from 10 years ago, wow! It really does go fast. Being an older mom I realize this more
Definitely not just you. My oldest will be 17 this year as well. We say it all the time, but while those days with little ones drag, the years do fly. Thank you so much for reading. So glad we're connected here!
Oh Maria, this was beautiful! So very relatable - my son is 16. Have you ever considered submitting this as a personal essay? I have an idea or two of where to submit it, if you're interested. I hope this isn't coming across as pushy - I just think this post speaks to so many of us, it should be read by as many moms as possible.
Thank you so much, Wendy! My oldest is 16 too ❤️ I haven’t submitted much since I really buckled down on my novel TBH. So many publications won’t take previously published works, so that is the downside of SS, I suppose. Still, I’d love to hear your ideas!
Hi Maria! So sorry for getting to this beautiful essay late—it’s been one of those weeks!
Just such a moving reflection on getting older, parenting, and the importance of art. There’s such warmth in your prose, and I could feel the nostalgia, inhabit it through your evocative descriptions. What struck me the most is how writing/art helps you process this moment in your life. I, too, feel like I’ve rediscovered writing and literature at a moment when it helps me understand myself and the world around me. I need to be writing even more down when it comes to the kids! Anyway, again, such a beautiful post. I always look forward to reading your work.
Hi Jacob! No need to apologize for "late" reading. Ever! My boys are 16, 14, and 10, and this time of year is bonkers for anyone involved in teaching/has kids in school. I so get it. I think it's lovely, actually, to have comments trickle in. They sort of extend the conversation on a piece, and as we both know, sometimes writing waits until we are ready. Thank you so very much for reading and taking the time to share your connections and kind words.
You nearly made me cry. Miss you and Cambridge and all the things. Your writing is beautiful, as always. Congratulations on ALL the words you're climbing through and towards!
Love your ability to express your memories and wishes for your future. Thank you. I am reminded of my own.... so long ago. Please, dear Maria, keep on 'keeping on'. You make me smile and maybe shed a tear or two. 'Paulajo
Beautiful piece Maria, love how you capture the idea of the different versions of ourselves. Having moved around a few times myself, I feel like I shed a skin somehow, but there are still traces of me and my life there.
That was beautiful. I can relate so much. There’s a lot of nostalgia in my heart. Where did time go? I look at my kids and can’t believe it, it feels like yesterday that I rushed from ballet classes to basketball games and piano lessons. Time is precious.
It surely is.❤️ When they were really little, it seemed like we had forever. Now I sense a bigger picture. Life is sweet and fleeting. Thank you for reading, Olivia.
SO touching and real! baby crocs all day. I love your brain and I'm so glad you are writing like a maniac and getting after it so wholly. Holy? Whole-ly. We all need to slow down and pay attention and stay in the now. Thank you for being such a great guide for that xoxo
This was a lovely read. My two sons are are 15 and 20, and I do sometimes find myself feeling very nostalgic and missing the days when I was their best friend. Funny how now they're mine. :) Great read, thanks for sharing!
That is absolutely heartwarming to hear. I hope I can say the same! Thank you so much for reading.
You’re speaking to me, quite directly! I need to be writing it all down. And yet when I have a moment, I’m writing *other things* down. Which seem quite important in terms of jobs and things but of course, there will be nothing more important when I look back in a few fast years than these moments with Lois.
It’s so hard when you’re tired and “in it.” People always say the days drag and the years fly…but gosh it’s the truth. Snuggle that gorgeous little girl for me!!
Wow, this is so beautiful and I’m grateful to have found you as a new mother myself. I came to writing at a different time than you — with the birth of my son — and this is the type of nostalgia and inspiration that keeps me writing every day now, even after the sleepless nights (of which there are still many). Thank you for this. Your writing voice is beautiful ❤️
Thank you so much for reading and your kind words, Miriam. I admire your dedication to your writing even at such a very busy, hands-on, and exhausting stage. It's amazing what we can do when we are inspired. Keep writing! You are creating a time capsule of words as you go.❤️
My boys are one and three. I'm in the thick of it but trying to soak it up as much as I can while they are little despite lack of sleep. I am passionate about memory keeping but not as good at keeping a written record. I'm trying to do that now on Substack. I have so many photos and videos. I have a private instagram where I store photos from every month and then have videos in my Instagram stories time and date stamped and archived. I also put home videos together that I put in a private YouTube playlist. They are my boys favourite thing to watch on tv ❤️
It sounds like you are doing a tremendous job of preserving all of your memories. Well done! You will have so much to look back on, and how absolutely adorable that your boys love watching all those videos already. So cute. Thank you so much for reading and commenting.❤️
I am "revisiting" writing again in my - let's say I'm a wee bit older than you ;) Nostalgia in midlife- yes for sure. I thought it was just me! My son will 17 soon and I am nostalgic for his childhood as well. I've noticed he is now too! He has become nostalgic over songs from 10 years ago, wow! It really does go fast. Being an older mom I realize this more
Definitely not just you. My oldest will be 17 this year as well. We say it all the time, but while those days with little ones drag, the years do fly. Thank you so much for reading. So glad we're connected here!
Oh Maria, this was beautiful! So very relatable - my son is 16. Have you ever considered submitting this as a personal essay? I have an idea or two of where to submit it, if you're interested. I hope this isn't coming across as pushy - I just think this post speaks to so many of us, it should be read by as many moms as possible.
Thank you so much, Wendy! My oldest is 16 too ❤️ I haven’t submitted much since I really buckled down on my novel TBH. So many publications won’t take previously published works, so that is the downside of SS, I suppose. Still, I’d love to hear your ideas!
Hi Maria! So sorry for getting to this beautiful essay late—it’s been one of those weeks!
Just such a moving reflection on getting older, parenting, and the importance of art. There’s such warmth in your prose, and I could feel the nostalgia, inhabit it through your evocative descriptions. What struck me the most is how writing/art helps you process this moment in your life. I, too, feel like I’ve rediscovered writing and literature at a moment when it helps me understand myself and the world around me. I need to be writing even more down when it comes to the kids! Anyway, again, such a beautiful post. I always look forward to reading your work.
Hi Jacob! No need to apologize for "late" reading. Ever! My boys are 16, 14, and 10, and this time of year is bonkers for anyone involved in teaching/has kids in school. I so get it. I think it's lovely, actually, to have comments trickle in. They sort of extend the conversation on a piece, and as we both know, sometimes writing waits until we are ready. Thank you so very much for reading and taking the time to share your connections and kind words.
You nearly made me cry. Miss you and Cambridge and all the things. Your writing is beautiful, as always. Congratulations on ALL the words you're climbing through and towards!
I miss you too, and those sit-against-your-front-door days. All the time ❤️ Thank you for reading. Always!
Love your ability to express your memories and wishes for your future. Thank you. I am reminded of my own.... so long ago. Please, dear Maria, keep on 'keeping on'. You make me smile and maybe shed a tear or two. 'Paulajo
Thank you for reading, Paulajo. I am so happy for the connection and support.❤️
Beautiful piece Maria, love how you capture the idea of the different versions of ourselves. Having moved around a few times myself, I feel like I shed a skin somehow, but there are still traces of me and my life there.
That’s it! I actually find it a comforting thought, as if my memories in those places are safe and cared for.❤️
That was beautiful. I can relate so much. There’s a lot of nostalgia in my heart. Where did time go? I look at my kids and can’t believe it, it feels like yesterday that I rushed from ballet classes to basketball games and piano lessons. Time is precious.
It surely is.❤️ When they were really little, it seemed like we had forever. Now I sense a bigger picture. Life is sweet and fleeting. Thank you for reading, Olivia.
SO touching and real! baby crocs all day. I love your brain and I'm so glad you are writing like a maniac and getting after it so wholly. Holy? Whole-ly. We all need to slow down and pay attention and stay in the now. Thank you for being such a great guide for that xoxo
Love you, Mer ❤️Thank you for ALWAYS reading and being the best cheerleader. Absolutely baby crocs all day long!