Harry and me, Winter 1991.
Pacifier? Check. Sippy cup? Check. Scraps of bread? Check. I snapped the safety strap of the red-and-white-striped umbrella stroller across three-year-old Harry’s waist. Then I adjusted the canopy to protect his face from the Sunshine State’s namesake symbol. The year was 1993.
“Should we go find the ducks, Harry?”
“Yes!” he said, excitedly kicking the footrest. The kid loved baby animals, and we’d seen ducklings in the pond as we drove past the day before.
And just like that, my heart inflated like a Valentine balloon.
I pushed the stroller down my father-in-law’s driveway on Alton Drive and turned right. The streets of his sleepy Clearwater neighborhood were quiet. Harry and I were both silent as I turned left at the end of the block. He had plugged in his pacifier, and I was enjoying the smell of tall grasses along the field to our right. We were just two blocks from the suburban duck pond when Harry spoke.
“I love you, Momma,” he said softly.
I stopped moving. And just like that, my heart inflated like a Valentine balloon. I walked around to face my precious-heart boy and bent over to touch his warm cheek.
“I love you, too, Peanut. Forever and always. No matter what.” Then I hugged him.
He smiled and popped the pacifier back in his mouth.
Back behind the stroller, under the cloudless blue Florida sky, I thought about how much this small child loved me and trusted me. He counted on me to cherish him and protect him. And at that moment I felt just how powerful unconditional parent-child love can be.
More than anything, I wanted Harry to have a happy life. And all it was going to take that day was a mother duck and her cute, quacking ducklings.
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I’m all choked up. Lovely! Happy Valentine’s Day! Lovely photo too!
Aw…thanks, Rose! Happy, happy day to you, too. Julie xo
Jules, Up North in the U.P. skiing with the kids this weekend and we actually have wifi and was able to read this. I wish both you and Harry a wonderful Valentine’s! Kat
Thanks, Kat! Have fun on the slopes with your little Valentines. Jxo
Great pic of you two cousins. I think the world needs more of this and less of everything else.
Your love for each other has always shone through and I’m proud to have witnessed it.
I feel this way with my own two children and my two grandchildren.
Now that that’s over, where can I get that good corned beef sandwich?
Yes, to those feelings of love that even a good corned beef sandwich can’t top!! I <3 you. xo
What a sweet story! There is nothing like the love of a child, all so innocent and from their heart. My older daughter started a saying when she was little and getting ready for bed “I love you to the stars and back and forever and ever” and even to this day, she still signs all her cards, texts or emails to me with that ( she will abbreviate it though lol) and now the younger daughter has started using that also. Your stories about your journey with Harry show what a wonderful parent you are and the incredible bond you two have!!!!
The very best to you and your family!
Laura, I just love that sweet “to the stars and back.” So darling! There really is nothing like that indescribable innocence and goodness that comes out when little kids speak of love. Thanks so much for sharing that. Happy Valentine’s Day to you all! Jxoxo
Lovely, lovely story. Sometimes we need something like that to remember precious moments we simply forgot. I remembered…….
Thank you so much, Larry! xo