A friend I grew up with at the beach has a son the same age as mine. The last time we went to the beach, we realized our days would look very different with boys approaching 2 years old. No more sitting on the blankets under multiple umbrellas hoping our babies did not gobble up sand like last summer. These movers believe the beach is their oyster. They will approach you for pretzels if you happen to be eating some nearby. They will take your shovels and pails if you are not using them. But they do it all with charm.
This year, I will be seated in the wet sand. I will be standing at the water’s edge with my son who yells, “Run, run, run!” not too far from his mama’s sprint.
My friend and I can talk for hours standing in the ocean. “My mom did this,” she told me speaking about our feet in the sand. “I used to wonder why she stood here for so long.”
Yesterday, I stood in the ocean feeling the sand bind my toes to the earth. I was alone with my son. It was low tide, and I planted our towels and backpack in the wet sand – perfect for a 100 degree late afternoon. My son is too scared to put his feet in the ocean. This is just as well. He runs faster each day, and if there are things stopping him other than me, I am grateful. Not much else stops him. He has recently perfected a wrestling move where he jumps in the air and lands on his bottom thinking he is the cat’s meow.
I hold him as we come to the water’s edge. We look out at seagulls and point to boats. He oohs occasionally pointing out this and that. We are fairly quiet taking in the last few drops of this beautiful first day of summer grateful to be here. I am grateful that life has led us here. I am grateful to be giving my son a similar summer to the magical ones I’ve spent here as a child.
I want to capture this moment where I’m standing at the water’s edge filled with serenity looking out on the horizon. With every transition brings new possibilities.
I capture our shadows, something my son is also scared of – so I don’t point it out to him or he will cry.
A man sees me taking pictures of the sand, offering to take a picture of us both. “My wife complains she is never in any pictures with our sons,” he says pointing to his family nearby.
I accept, knowing the majority of my photos of us are our feet, our hands, or our shadows – (don’t get me wrong, I love these photos), but a face would be nice. Body??? I can’t remember the last photo of me in a bathing suit. Safe to say it was probably the summer between my freshman and sophomore year of highschool, only because I just found a picture of my beach friends while packing for our move.
I’m glad I didn’t hesitate. I’m still wearing a stretched out maternity suit, (super comfortable, I’ve been unable to part with it). I smile for my camera, happy to remember this day and more to follow standing in wet sand watching my little boy grow up.
You are a talent, Miss Ellen. It always warms my heart to read your blog.
Oh my goodness! The pictures are gorgeous and have such a retro vibe! Your son’s going to cherish that last one forever. And, according to my herbalist, standing barefoot on wet sand is incredibly nourishing with all the minerals in the water seeping up the soles of your feet straight into fixing any mineral depletion. Your mama was on to something 😉
Oh, how I miss these days with little ones. This so beautifully captures the days that are piling one upon another that make up your life together. You’re looking pretty good, mama! Good for you to put yourself in the photo- imagine how your son will feel looking back at you in thirty years. Such a gift!
Absolutely lovely post! The photos are gorgeous. I miss the ocean. Sometimes I just have to go and get some “big water” time.
Beautiful. Ordinary moments that feel so extraordinarily full and complete. I am cherishing my summer days as well, before we transition into a new phase with our “little ones” ages 3&5. Life is beginning to feel slower as I really embrace how precious this time is.
[…] making the most of the present moment […]