Rite of Passage
Posted March 18, 2011 by
I painted my daughter's toenails for the first time this morning.
It was one of those moments, those big, beautiful life moments where everything kind of overlaps and you realize how connected it all is. My mother and I had this same moment once and Vera will probably have this moment with her own daughter one day. All of it connected. Brought on by the simple and girlish act of painting toenails.
I remember my mother's toenails. I remember the freckles on her arms and the ways in which her hands were different from mine. I remember the thickness of her hair and the way she used to purse her lips when she looked at herself in the mirror. I remember her throaty laugh and way she sounded when she called my name from the top of the stairs.
I know that with each passing day I imprint myself even more onto my daughter. There are millions of ways to be a woman, but she will forever be influenced by the distinct way in which I've unfolded into my own femininity, just as my mother influenced me, and her mother her, and on and on.
Mothers and daughters. And toenails.
Also see:
Finding Hope, After Mother-Loss
Home from NYC: A Love Letter to the Women in My LifeFiled under: My Mom, Photos, Veronica by Claire Bidwell Smith
18 Comments
Made me smile. =)
Comment by Sheri on March 18, 2011 at 11:09 am
So sweet!!
Someday, someday…
And I can’t imagine my daughter ever sitting still long enough for such fun!
Comment by megan on March 18, 2011 at 12:13 pm
I love this post!
My daughter sits on her bed to paint her toenails, she didn’t get that level of coordination from me! haha When her daughter was nearly two, she climbed up onto the bed while her mom was painting her own toenails, wiggled close to her mom, and pointed her little toes to have hers painted. That was their first time! Shelby is seven now and, since that day, I’ve never seen my precious granddaughter without her cute little toes painted.
Comment by Bev on March 18, 2011 at 12:24 pm
oh, my goodness…This was SO beautiful…I love her little hands flipping up as she stares at her toes. SO amazing….Love u guys. xo
Comment by francesca on March 18, 2011 at 12:29 pm
Being a man, the toenail thing is a mystery to me. However I can appreciate the closeness and the imprint that our parents make on us. I wish all parents recognized the influence they have in life with their children particularly as the child is young and learning so much so quickly. Thanks for that special moment, though never experienced myself, nevertheless helps me remember similar times when my parents did meaningful things for me as a child that made me who I am.
Comment by Dallas on March 18, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Thanks! ME too.
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on March 18, 2011 at 3:23 pm
I was really surprised that she sat still for it too!
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on March 18, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Ha, thats so sweet!
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on March 18, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Thanks, Fran! Love you too!
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on March 18, 2011 at 3:25 pm
So glad you could appreciate the moment. Yes, there really are hundreds of profound parent-child moments that stay with us forever.
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on March 18, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Such a sweet post. The first picture with her little hands over her mouth is adorable. As is the one of her checking out her little toes. I love how you take a seemingly everyday ritual and articulate it in such a lovely way. She is adorable. And, you seem like a mom who is very “present” with her daughter. She couldn’t ask for more!
Comment by Lynne on March 18, 2011 at 8:19 pm
Oh, thanks! Thats really nice to hear.
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on March 19, 2011 at 7:55 am
Alas…I have two grandsons with very cute unpainted toes. Fortunately for me they let me brush their very nice hair! I have enjoyed reading your blog and am very interested to read your book when it is published.
Comment by Mimi on March 19, 2011 at 12:32 pm
I love this paragraph in particular: “I know that with each passing day I imprint myself even more onto my daughter. There are millions of ways to be a woman, but she will forever be influenced by the distinct way in which I’ve unfolded into my own femininity, just as my mother influenced me, and her mother her, and on and on.”
It’s kinda humbling to think about all the parts of our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents etc that we carry around with us.
So lovely to see V so excited about her pretty painted nails.
Comment by Sophie on March 19, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Yes, isnt it amazing to think about all the layers of people that distill into you?
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on March 20, 2011 at 8:02 am
Thank you so much! And brushing nice hair can be just as good as painting little toenails.
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on March 20, 2011 at 8:04 am
This is such a lovely post! She looks so excited! (:
Comment by Aisha on March 21, 2011 at 9:34 pm
I know! Shes still excited about those toes.
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on March 22, 2011 at 7:20 am
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