Little Luxuries

After a summer bounty of travel kicking-off in June with Lila's first plane/family road trip, highlighted in July with her 1st birthday celebration in Vermont and capped off in August on the Cape Cod seashore (our little traveler added three more states to her "domestic passport") we have come home to nest. Maybe it is the first chill of fall that brings me home again- back to Sunday dinners and sweaters at the ready. Of course I write this as Greg is away for a football weekend in Philadelphia, which has given Lila and me the opportunity to savor a crisp fall day of nowhere to go and nothing in particular to do- what a luxury!  I can't remember the last day I spent alone with my little girl- certainly this was the first in her "age of action." 


Lila on the move in her new kicks



Approaching 15 months, this little blonde ball of energy seems to be campaigning for mayor - she waves and blows kisses to everyone she sees- sometimes as I push her in her little car I feel more like her handler than mother. It was "Back to School Night" at Lila's school this week - there was a barbecue and Guitar Dan.  Lila made her rounds and throughout I was greeted by other parents who had stories of Lila, sharing with me how she greets them hello and pats their babies goodbye.  Last weekend we went for Lila’s official shoe-fitting and in between first Nikes and Mary Janes our little lover found time to plant a big smack on an unsuspecting little boy- I am afraid he may be the first of many for this little girl seems to want to seal everything with a kiss. I soak up every minute of these blissful days of walks along the water, hide and seek and new discovery as Lila reaches out to everyone she sees. I am not sure where Lila gets her joie de vivre but it is certainly contagious.

Lila and Guitar Dan

I suspect Lila’s spirit may have been inherited.  My mom was just down for a visit and spent two days caring for, or should I say chasing, Lila. Grandma Cathy and Lila seem to have developed their own language which is dominated by toddler shrieks of delight. I have such precious memories of my grandmother and am so thankful that Lila has her two grandmothers to love and teach her. I do believe that it takes a village and perhaps that may explain Lila's butterfly personality- you get what you give. 

There's been controversy in the press this week about "older parents," and while according to Time magazine we are technically a few years south of this line of demarcation, I have been paying attention to the debate. In this time of multi-tasking and constant screen time it is a luxury to unplug and reconnect to those who mean the most. I savor these days when I am beholden to no one but my daughter.  All my roads always lead to Lila but it a precious day when they are detour-free and today was one of those days. At just over a year in I am certainly no expert on parenting, but no matter what the age on your driver's license I think the true litmus test for a “good” parent may be when there is no greater luxury than simply being with your children.