We let the boy stay up late last night. We are pretty strict about our 7:30 bedtime round these parts, but there was something about the heat of the day and how it slithered into a remarkable evening that loosened me.
There was something about how patient he had been with mom and dad working all day at home. There was a good vibe and so we told him he could stay up to see the lightening bugs and stars. He fully appreciated it.
The fireflies were magical and his mouth formed perfect circles and his eyes were so very wide. Although it broke my heart that he could not remember last year's bugs.
These are amazing he said.
It also broke my heart that I have discovered he cannot remember our old house.
His old room. The place we started.
Were you really so little only last year Finn?
He could hardly brush his teeth or make it to his bed fast enough and he cried and cried simply because he was exhausted, but I didn't feel too bad about jacking up his circadian rhythm. He had a sparkly time, a perfect shiny night this summer. And I was a mama magpie swooping down and taking that glimmering moment and tucking it safe in my mind- safekeeping a memory for all of us.
9 comments:
Perfect. You reminded me of watching lightning bugs beneath willow trees.
Awww Sweet!! You should see the millions of fireflys that light across the fields surrounding my house. It's freakin Amazing!!
Sweet lovely story =)
Since moving to Florida I haven't seen a single firefly... my kids really missed out on one of the best parts of summer. Thanks for bringing that memory back for me. :D
What sweet words. I loved each one!
What wonderful memories!
We moved to Ohio when my sister was almost 4 and the first night she was ever allowed to stay up past her bedtime: fireflies. Chasing fireflies on that farm are some of my clearest childhood memories and so dear. How lucky Finn is to have such loving parents who are helping him to build such beautiful memories.
OH AMY! a 7:30 bedtime really does put me to shame. We're so far north that the sun doesn't set until 9:45 - 1o at night... By the time I'm done reading our ritual Nancy Drew Chapter... it's 11! Every night. I must straighten my ways...
Lovely, lovely words here, as always.
Great post Amy, wish we had fireflies. We just have giant man eating mosquitos.
the picture of sweet Finn makes him look so little, and so young. You won't really see it now, but when you look at this again in a year or two he will seem like such a baby and you will worry all over again that he's forgotten this moment; but he'll remember this and all the rest as one long lovely glow.
well. how beautiful are you making that boy's memory book? this just made my heart light up.
not back yet, but i was missing you, so i thought i'd check in for a moment. see you soooooon. xoxo.
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