Small Wonders: Seeing Anew Through the Eyes of a Child Is a Form of Rescue Motherhood

As we age and experience, it becomes easier to become jaded and casually pass by the beauties of the world that fall below our radar. Taking a walk with my grandson, I observed him discover a tiny sea shell – not on an ocean beach but from a freshwater lake. He was so excited to find the little freshwater clam shell, marveling at its perfectness. He carried the shell home, even wanted to take it to bed with him. At some point, he let go of the shell and was distraught. Luckily, I found it. I picked it up and, before returning it to a happy little boy, noticed the ridges in the shell, its perfect dimensions, the gradations of grays and pearl essence.

Although small in scale, the discovery made me think about all of the beauty around us, even in the midst of seeming chaos and ugly, uncivil behaviors in the adult world. Every mother and grandmother instinctively knows this fact, but the reminders are a form of rescue. Children continue to find the surprise, the delight, the beauty in living. I took my cue from my grandson and am happier.