My daughter has never jumped.
She has journeyed to places most two-year olds have never had the misfortune to go, she has experienced surgery, blood transfusions, and week-long stays in hospital cots but she has never had the giggly feeling of her feet leaving the ground and returning safely.
She doesn’t even know what jumping is…
You call to her “Jump” and she crouches down, her lips purse in concentration and then she shoots upwards her arms stretched like arrows and her legs move up and she pivots on to her toes as her knees snap into position.
“I jump” she cries happily, satisfied with her own version of the action.
My heart cracks a little.
Like walking, jumping is something I never truly appreciated until I had BB.
We go to parks, play areas, music groups and she suddenly spots children rolling and tumbling along, their legs leaping away from the floor she seems chained to. Then she sees the difference and deflates a little, she solemnly walks over to me rubbing her thigh with a serious expression set on her beautiful small face.
“Leg hurts” she says and she sits down beside me, watching not playing.
My heart cracks a little more.
Tonight we sat on the sofa, reading Monkey and Me for the millionth time, she tired of it before I did and wandered off round the room muttering jump under her breath and swinging her arms towards the ceiling.
I sat back and watched my littlest, a smile tingling at my lips.
She limped over to me and grasped my hands,
“I jump mummy”
and then she bent to the floor, hands tight in mine and she shot up like an arrow and I felt it, I felt it in my arms, the moment her feet abruptly left the wooden floor and she soared like a bird no longer tied to the ground. I looked into her eyes and saw delight written there when she realised the fun she held in something that typically only causes her pain.
“I jump mummy” she said proudly.
I cried.
Then we jumped together.
I love her. F has also only just started jumping (a millimetre from the ground is her current record). They can jump together (or not) on Saturday. xxx
and jump they did x
I love that these small things have such a big impact. You may have gone through lots of things that no 2 year old should, but she makes you see the world in a whole new way. The joy of the small things
thanks jen x
Beautiful! You do make me cry. xx
sorry dude
Oh my goodness that made me cry!My little one who is 8 is only just learning how to jump and he cannot hop and as you say it’s a thing we take for granted until our children ‘can’t’ do it Abd others can.I know the heart cracking a little feeling!Im sooo glad she is learning to jump & I can imagine why you jumped too! X
oh bless, good luck with hopping x
Awww bless you. What a little star. 🙂
cheers emma
Ah this made me cry too. Things which seem so small can actually be the best of things. Wonderful.
ta very much x
yipee : )
xx
exactly!
Bloody perfect. I have tears x
*like*
Lovely 🙂
thanks ruth
So gorgeous. Made me cry a bit too. It’s nice to be able to appreciate the little things – which actually end up bloody big things! x
it is so lovely
How totally wonderful!! Xxx
thankyou
Tears here, I know that look deep in their eyes and how much we’ll never take for granted again. xx
x
Awwww! Just on my way to a work training course and this made my morning. Perfect x
not a great training course then?
Absolutely brilliant! Fantastic!! xxx
Thanks K x
Bloody gorgeous! What a wonderful moment!
cheers chuck!
Oh what a feeling!!! Lovely to hear that she is progressing. It does take time, and I have had to learn that even at my age. The feeling now of actually walking without noticing my legs every step is wonderful, whereas six months ago I would focus on every muscle for every step. Happy Jumping BB! xx
Cheers Annick! you remain our inspiration x
Reading this made me cry, well done on the jumping! x
Thanks we are very proud!
What a beautifully written, joyous story!
Thanks lovely
just brilliant – how sweet 🙂
cheers nickie – do love it when you stop by!
Lovely post, beautifully written x
aw thanks
Oh dear. I think I’m going to have to quit reading your blog until these pregnancy hormones settle. You’re making me cry! So sweet!
Thanks x x x
awww that brought a lump to my throat bless her! Well done to her too! Bet you are both jumping everywhere now! 🙂 x
we are – chuffed to bits x