On the first morning of our long-awaited family vacation, I awoke bubbling with excitement. My daughter, Mia, then three years old, was about to see the ocean for the first time. After a chaotic morning of packing our beach gear—14 bags in total—we arrived at the beach parking lot, and I couldn’t wait to capture Mia’s reaction as she laid eyes on the ocean. However, to my surprise, I found her completely engrossed in a puddle in the parking lot, splashing around joyfully in her swimsuit.
“Mia!” I called out, “Let’s go see the ocean!”
“Nooooo!” she replied, her focus unwavering.
“But Mia, it’s the ocean! It’s so beautiful!” I urged.
“MOMMY. I AM IN THE PUDDLE RIGHT NOW. I DON’T HAVE TIME TO SEE THE OCEAN.”
Eventually, we made our way to the shoreline, but it took nearly 45 minutes to get settled with tents, chairs, and all the essentials. Once we finally arrived at the beach, I knew we had a mere 10 minutes of seaside enjoyment before the baby would start crying, which would force us back to the beach house, where the other kids would inevitably complain about getting sand in uncomfortable places.
Nonetheless, I was determined to make the most of those precious moments. I sent my husband and the older kids to the water while I stayed under the beach umbrella with the baby, attempting to nurse him while shielding him from the sun and keeping sand at bay.
Amidst the chaos, I overheard a group of young women nearby. They were discussing summer jobs and one girl mentioned babysitting for a family.
“They pay me well, but it’s hard work. I am so tired when I get home,” she said.
“I bet,” her friend responded. “What all do you have to do?”
“I have to make food, feed it to them, clean up afterward, and I even took them to the grocery store once,” she explained, sounding exhausted.
“Wow. It’s like you are their mother,” her friend remarked.
“I know, right? It’s exhausting,” she sighed, taking a sip of her drink.
At that moment, I couldn’t help but chuckle, causing the baby to unlatch, and I awkwardly flashed the beach around me. I looked over at the girl; she was young, carefree, and sipping a beer in the morning sun, seemingly without a care in the world. I felt a pang of jealousy, reflecting on how my mornings now revolved around endless tasks and routines, where surviving the day felt like a victory.
I considered walking over to share some wisdom about cherishing these moments before life shifted dramatically, as so many had advised me. But my time was running short, and I had a baby to tend to and sand to shake off.
After lugging the beach supplies back to the car, I decided to join Mia in that puddle. I took a running leap and jumped right in. And you know what? She was right—it was incredible!
This experience reminded me of the importance of seizing the moment, even amidst the chaos of parenting. Sometimes, we need to embrace the small joys that life offers, much like a toddler splashing in a puddle.
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Summary
In a lighthearted recount of a family beach trip, the author reflects on the lessons learned from her toddler about embracing the moment. Amidst the chaos of parenting, she discovers that sometimes the simple joys, like splashing in a puddle, can bring the greatest happiness.