To Womanhood

A monumental moment in the Sparrow household, as we raised our glasses last night…”A toast, to womanhood – may it be as painless as possible, and may you grow into a beautiful woman, both inside and out.”  So, the words weren’t beautifully poetic…the moment was.

My lovely Devaney had greeted me, so eagerly, at the front door just a few hours before. I had been on a walk (first time with the double stroller) and an amazing thing had happened while I was away. As she led me to the bathroom, talking a mile a minute about what she thought was happening, my own heart began to race excitedly as this moment truly began to dawn on me. She wondered if this was, in fact, what she thought it was and as she and I stood there, examining the “evidence”, I knew at once that the bittersweet moment had arrived.

“Oh Mamacita!” as I wrapped both arms around my precious daughter. “Congratulations Baby, I love you so much.” I could barely mutter as the tears began to well up. “Are you crying Mama?” she asked. “Mmm Hmmm” was my reply. The tears of joy were a natural follow up to the waves of emotion that had just washed over me like a flash flood and, as I held her tightly in my arms, I knew it was an even bigger event for her.

I remember my own mother standing in the bathroom doorway, reacting to me in just the same way, the morning I started my first period. She put on such a display, for my benefit and the benefit of my memories, jumping up and down, clapping and cheering in a tone that is exclusive to my mama alone. It is a vivid and happy memory for me, and now with just a moment’s notice, my precious daughter’s future memories depended on my reaction now.

We grabbed the phone and, giddy with excitement, began to call the important women on our lives. Grandma first…Aunt Shade, Aunt Debbie, Aunt Nickie, Aunt T, Aunt Darla, Aunt April, Aunt Pami…how blessed are we? We quickly planned her “Period Party” which will simply be her time to sit, eat, and fellowship with the other women in the family.

Daddy came in, aware of the situation at hand (and after the initial shock and fear disappeared from his face) and gave his baby girl a gentle hug, congratulating her. “Thank you Daddy” she happily responded after shooting me a look, from over his shoulder, for spilling the beans. Aunt Shade soon showed up with roses, chocolate (how fitting), and sparkling apple cider. The same cider that we poured into fancy glasses and raised in a toast to my Devaney, my beautiful Mamacita, my not-so-little girl. Her pig tails have now officially been replaced with maxi pads…