A friend of mine once told me that every now and again a photograph of a child gives a tiny glimpse of the future. In this picture of my daughter I see more than my little girl; I get a glimpse of my daughter as an adult. This of course terrifies me beyond words but not for the reasons we dads like to bandy about. Sure I’m dreading the first moment I open the front door to peer through a haze of Clearasil at her first suitor. What really terrifies me to my core is that someday, much sooner than I can bear, she’s not going to be the little girl in this picture, she’s going to be the woman in this picture–I’m not ready to give up the little girl.
Moments like this one are so perfect in their simplicity. She and I were playing a little game of peekaboo through the leaves of this plant. My daughter hid and then periodically peeked through an opening in the plant and I’d laugh while grabbing as many shots as possible of her playfulness. Suddenly she moved from behind the plant and her eyes told me that she’d had enough of little girl play and would be moving on to bigger and better things. That’s the moment I took this picture. I love this image but at the same time it breaks my heart.
More than anything in the world I want to keep playing but my little girl is dragging me, kicking and screaming, into the future.
9 Comments
It is like she is the perfect blossom you’ve captured in a stroll through a garden -gorgeous photo.
Thank you Mami–she is indeed.
She is so beautiful! She looks so wise too.
Thanks Sara–wise enough to give me tons of grey hair. Always thinking that one–wouldn’t have it any other way
She has eyes like an angel… she’s gonna be a heartbreaker
Sometimes we wish the children in our lives will slowdown and not grow up too soon. But in a blink of an eye.. they are all grown. She is definitely dragging you, kicking and screaming, into the future ^.^
[sigh] Don’t I know it. Thanks Anny!
Beautiful capture, the light is lovely.
One day a time is what I say!
Thanks Kala!
I love reading your commentary along with the pictures and you have sort of inspired me to share a little bit more about the picture going forward.
This image is so superb and yes that’s exactly what her expression conveys here. She’s done with games now. The colours, expression and the light on her face is so wonderful.