I am watching

They warned me your childhood would whizz by in a flash
They warned me and I laughed,
because then,
each day felt like a lifetime.
Each sleepless night was a year, each hour of the day was an age.
All my energy was consumed, with keeping you alive, happy, thriving.
Your smiles became my goal, your laughter my reward, your tears my every waking concern.

And here we are my love, you have grown.
I remember all the firsts, but I have no idea when the ‘lasts’ happened...
Where was I?
The last time you snuggled into my lap to read.
The last time I lifted your warm little body to mould into mine, that fit, just right.
The last time you crawled into my safe space, in the dark of the night.

They warned me your childhood would whizz by in a flash,
And I laughed.
But it did, my love,
It did.

And now I watch you grow evermore strong and I vow to drink in every tiny detail,
lest that go by in an instant also.
I may not remember all the ‘lasts’ my little one,
But I am watching for every ‘new’.

I am watching.

Donna Ashworth
Art by Lauri Blank