As I was running around trying to get myself and three kids ready for a day at the beach this morning, I heard,
“Doesn’t Mommy look nice today.”
The kids and I were due to meet some friends at 9 a.m. Things were not going smoothly.
Then,
“Haven’t seen that one in a while.”
Suddenly, I wasn’t frantically trying to find Thermoses and swimmy diapers and sun hats or yelling at the kids to Get Your Swimsuits ON. I stopped.
I was wearing a comfy, old sundress. One I used to wear to the beach. But it has been a long time since I wasn’t pregnant and/or breastfeeding. A long time since my body was sundress ready. I knew when I pulled the dress over my head this morning that E would not be able to peek her head under for a slurp in the cute way that she does when she wants to nurse. That it was just a beach cover up, and that I’d be back to a T-shirt when we got back home. I was just trying to get us out the door, and some old part of me pulled out this dress. That I haven’t worn in at least 6 years.
And it brought me back.
But not until J noticed it.
So I stopped. I said something like, “It’s been a while.” He smiled. And that was it. A barely complete exchange between two people with a past. A past that doesn’t involve (only) kids. A past that includes lots of days on the beach. With the sports page and the crossword puzzle. Me, wearing a linen sundress. Over a two-piece bathing suit. That showed off my belly button ring. Oh how I loved that ring. Oh how J did, too.
And then I looked at the clock. And finished packing the lunch. And gathered diapers and towels and dry clothes and sunscreen and sand toys. And off we went. For a day at the beach with our friends.
We had a great time. And when I slipped the dress on again at the end of our beach time, I smiled.
Thanks, Sweetie.
Read More in history aka before kids, Jen Writes, relationship
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“A barely complete exchange between two people with a past. ”
I adore this. THIS is a short story in one sentence. THIS is a feeling. An embrace. A glance. A word or two or none. But we all know this, and all it means. And how it feels. And how it defines familiarity, and being known – by someone else, in such entirety – and what it means to feel comfortable, in your own skin, in front of someone else. Aaaaah.
That is an awesome post. Such a beautiful moment. And a good reminder of how a simple, heartfelt compliment can bring us right back to a time we needed to remember…