Wren and I sat in the hard plastic chairs of the doctor’s office. Ear pain had brought us in. After checking in with the nurse, we sat in the quiet. I reread the posters plastering the back of the door. I had just been there the day before for well visits with the other girls. Wren also read the room.
My eyes caught the sterile white scale used for weighing babies and suddenly I was transported back, nearly ten years ago, to my first visits to that office. I saw myself carefully lowering Wren onto that scale, a move that always sent her into hysterics.
I was a new mom then, fumbling with car seats, a newborn, and all of the paraphernalia that came with the job- all neatly packed into an oversized diaper bag.
I also remember how disheveled that bag would be by the end of the visit, as I sweatily tried to redress a now fussy newborn and get us, and all of our stuff, back out the door.
“How could that have been almost ten years ago?” I thought to myself as I sat with my sassy almost ten year old, wearing a tiny bag holding just my most essential cards and a key fob.
Where There Is Joy 
Time does fly…I love how you centered the slice on the object of the scale and then closed by comparing your current page to the earlier described diaper bag. So much changes in 10 years! Thanks for shairng.
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The bags those small kids needed, right?! I hope Wren is feeling better- ear pain is awful!
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Nothing brings the passage of time into focus like the changes in our children. I like how you layered that with the resulting changes in you as well. I remember those days of overflowing diaper bags and baby paraphernalia oh so well–both a heartbeat and a lifetime ago. You capture that duality so nicely here.
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“Sweatily tried to redress a now fussy newborn” — any new mom can relate to those words, that moment, when you know you’ve made it through the appointment and now it’s time to go. Then as you walk out, you hope your remember anything the doctor may have told you! Fabulous trip back in time, thanks, as always for sharing!
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I haven’t thought about those baby scales in years! Your slice really brought me back to the baby wellness checks … especially the trying to get a fussy newborn back into their clothes and out the door. Loved this trip down memory lane!
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Time goes by way too fast. I like how you started present day and went back in time with this memory.
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I think my favorite part of this piece is how the scale, which is the center of your reflection, shows up in the center of the piece. This is truly a mentor text for reflecting on how an object can lead to reflection and reveal something about the writer. (Also, I hope her earache is better!)
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The smaller the child, the bigger the bag. That’s a really great image to focus on. Now, all the stuff you carry for your child is inside your head. I agree with Amanda’s comment, above. This is a great example of how objects hold both memories and meaning.
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This was such a warm recollection. I love how seeing the weight triggered your past memories. Love for your child shines through ❤️
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I love the way one object led you through these powerful memories.
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