Sitting in that familiar rocking chair holding my grandson Alex, I thought about how long it had been since the last time I rocked a baby. Three years at least since the last grandchild was small enough to do this. The moment was precious, deserving of cementing into my memory. Who knows when I’ll get to do this again.
There is nothing like it. That sweet baby smell, the softest of fine hair on his head, the tenderest of kissable skin on the back of his neck, the feel of those tiny fingers on my arms, soft new skin next to mine. The way his head lay trustingly on my shoulder, secure in his house among his people. He had woken briefly but went into snooze mode quite nicely as soon as I picked him up. I had to walk him a little bit and let him settle down before I dared sit down, but it worked.
The rocker was the same one in which I’d held, fed and rocked his mother. Wooden and sturdy, wide, with arms on which to rest mine, and a light gentle creak as the rockers moved back and forth. Soothing, comfortable, familiar. Wonderful. One of those early morning quiet times when all seems right with the sleeping world and you get to hold this amazing tiny person.
As he began to stir I sang softly, the old hymns that I sang as lullabies to my own children. I said a prayer over this little one who will grow up in a world much different and more challenging than the one I was born into. Finally he lifted his head up and stretched his legs out to stand. He was ready to play.
So we moved to sit on the floor where he was content for a while to cuddle and read Brown Bear. Thank God that was the book close by. I didn’t have my glasses but I could read this picture book easily – besides, I read it to my children so much that I almost had it memorized. Like all children he wanted to read it several times. And then he was done.
After a fresh diaper and a peek out the window to see that it was indeed daylight and probably time for his breakfast we went downstairs. The day had started and the magic moment was now history. But I’ll always have the memory to take out and cherish. Mini magic moments can happen any time.
Kim Robinson is an author living in Austin, TX. She and her husband have six children and fourteen grandchildren and enjoy spending time with family. Passionate about parenting, she writes and speaks about a variety of issues facing parents and professionals dealing with teenagers in crisis. She enjoys speaking at retreats and to various organizations.
Kim's debut novel, Chased by Grace - A Story of Survival, is available now.