I sat gazing
At my beautiful new daughter
As she slept in my arms
Just a few hours old
I was amazed by the miracle
That was placed in my arms
I was breathing into the body
That worked so hard
To help her along
Together
We rested in peace
It was time though
For her to… Eat
She refused
She fussed a bit
Scrunched up her tiny little nose
In annoyance
At the nurses insistence
Pestering actually
For her to… Eat
Until
My beautiful little girl
Dozed back to sleep
Soon I was told
Take off her clothes
Let her get cold
Newborns hate to get cold
When she opens her mouth to cry
Push her on and make her
Eat
What
Make her
Eat
She’s a few hours old
Why would I
Make her
Do anything
Other then
BE
Who she is
As she is
The nurse became frustrated
Storming in and out
Confronting this new mothers
Obvious lack of knowledge
She threatened me
I threatened her
You and this baby
Will not be able to leave
Until she
Eats
First of all
I said
This
Baby has a name
Second of all
I said
Get the hell out of my room
Like… Now
In silence
I sat gazing
At my beautiful new daughter
As she slept in my arms
Just a few hours old
Softly I said
Listen
You need to know something
You and me
We are in this together
From here on out
For the rest of our lives
We are in this together
And I am here to say to you
I am willing
To meet you
Where you are
How you need to be met
And support you in your
Choices
So…
If you want to
Eat
Eat
If you don’t
Don’t
You seem perfectly content to me
Let me know what you want
I am here for you
And…
Ya have to know
They aren’t going to let us out
Of this joint
Until you
Eat
So…
My beautiful little girl
Let me know when you are ready
And I am here for you
We will do this
Your way
We will do this
Together
Within moments
She opened her newborn
Blurry eyes
Gazed up
Turned her sweet little
Peach fuzzed head
And began to
Eat
I was shocked
Amazed
Enamoured
Filled with gratitude
Covered in goose bumps
As I trusted me
As I trusted her
As I trusted the awareness
We are in this
Together
I made a commitment
In that moment
To always listen
Follow her lead
While offering guidance
Support
Knowledge
I made a commitment
In that moment
To do my best
To let go
Of what is
Suppose to be
And hold onto
What I feel
In my heart
To have the courage
To speak from my heart
For what I know is best for me
For my children
To walk this path
Along side of
Not in front of
Not behind
But alongside of
The brilliance
That is
My beautiful baby girl
*A reflection of a perfect day
between mother and daughter
that started 11 years ago
and remains today
