In Your Shoes...

"The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that fits all cases" ~Carl Gustav Jung

Or in this case, the shoe that fits the mommy, swims on the baby. Our babies want to be just like us at this age. They look up to us. We are their heroines. We hold the starring role in their lives for the first three or four years. Then, their peers take over. They stop wanting to wear our shoes and copy our lead.

At first, the shift is subtle. They will meet a little friend at nursery school or a revere an older cousin and all you will hear is, "Miranda does this." Or, "Jessie has that shirt, I want it, too." By the time they are eight or so, "Ew, Mom, those are gross! Those SO aren't my style!"

I guess I am writing this post to myself to remind myself to treasure these moments. I don't want to lose patience with Elena's copying of me and carrying my stuff all around the house. I need to remember that this starring role I have is not forever. At some points, I might even feel like a washed-up actress playing merely a bit part in my child's life.