She is a Wilderness

Good morning everyone!

I hope everybody had a fantastic week. I know mine was great.

One of my favourite things about being a parent is the little moments. Sure the big moments are great too like the first steps, graduating Kindergarten, birthdays, and all the big things that we will remember. In my opinion, it is the little things that happen as a parent that stick with you the longest.

Do I ever have a story for you guys.

I was doing some journaling this morning, reflecting on something that my daughter had said yesterday. And this moment, was too sweet to keep to myself.

My daughter, is 6-years-old. Last night after supper, she was goofing off and not really listening to me. So instead of getting mad at her, I just commented, "You are very strong-willed." She looks up from the mayhem she is causing, looks me dead in the eyes and says, "I am not the wilderness."

"What do you mean?" I asked with a smile on my face.

She goes, "Nope. Uh, uh. I am not the wilderness." I chuckled, and explained that being strong-willed is a good thing to be in life, besides the not listening part. She paused for a moment before stating yet again she was not a "wilderness".

So I asked her why she thought that's what I meant when I called her strong-willed. She explained it was because both words have "wild" in it. Kid logic. Keep in mind she is 6-years old and just learning how to read. I promised her we would work more on her reading this summer. And that was the end of the wilderness thing - for her at least.

I spent the last twelve hours ruminating on what she said. Because she is also a little bit of a wilderness, in poetic terms of course.

Reflecting on that small misunderstanding from yesterday, inspired me to write this poem for her today.

She is a Wilderness

She is a wilderness.

She is untamed in the gentlest ways with her muddy shoes, wind knotted hair, and wildflowers clutched in either fist.

She is a thunderstorm of giggles, runs as though the earth is calling her name, and believes every stick could become a magical wand.

She collects rocks like they are her long-lost treasures, asks a million questions that the sky can't always answer, and has such a very large heart for someone so small.

She reminds me that the wildest things are often the most beautiful.

May she always remain a little bit wild, a little bit of wonder, and entirely herself in this life.

She is a wilderness, and I am so grateful that I get to be her mom.

Sometimes, children hear things differently than us adults. Or their wide eyes capture a new perspective that we have either lost as we got older.

I think her perspective changed me.

Because I am a wilderness too.

Maybe, we all are a wilderness inside ourselves.

I hope she never loses her spark, and keeps her imagination running wild. I hope she keeps her curiosity growing and well-watered. I hope that I always remember to slow down, and listen to her. Because children have this way of teaching us, when we think we are the ones teaching them. So it's important to slow myself down, and really listen to their perspectives on things.

Thank you for allowing me to share a piece of my heart with you all this morning. I hope this warms your heart as much as it warmed my own.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Chloe Unfiltered