A letter from a young mother to her 2-year-old son.
Wisdom, created by the Bond of Love between Mother and Son.

Words by Kezia Baker

BOND OF LOVE

Life is a beautiful journey, time heals many things and hindsight is a wonderful teacher,
but it waits for no-one.

At times, it has made me feel robbed, like I haven’t been given enough. I know I will look back when you have grown and wish I had just left the dishes in the sink a little longer, just to play with you, or spent more time dancing with you by the record player, or listened with a little more patience to the stories you tell me.

It’s absolute magic and I want to treasure these beautiful yet fleeting moments
so that I can look back and feel like I didn’t miss it.

I didn’t miss you growing up so fast.

You turn two tomorrow and I can’t help but feel overwhelmed with mixed
emotions.

A part of me is excited to watch you grow into who you are meant to be,
and to journey with you through it all; yet the other half of me so desperately feels like you are slipping between my fingers.

Like I am grieving the loss of a loved one because the little baby I once held so perfectly in my arms is outgrowing my grasp. Soon I’ll be holding your hand to your first day of school, then kissing your cheek on your first day of college, dancing with you at your wedding, then watching you hold your child with eyes of adoration like I had for you and it will break me again.

Wishing I could go back to that moment with you.
When everything was perfect because I could hold you.
I could comfort you. I could love you without being pushed away.

As the reality of how fast time flies hits me a little harder, I can’t help but feel
a bit of guilt.

Did I love you well enough? Have I been as present with you as I should be? Have I made you feel unseen at times? My child, you are my reason, my inspiration.
You are why I decided to follow my dreams.

I hope that one day you will see that you can do anything, even really hard things.

And you may not be perfect at it but it’s all a journey.

I want you to learn how to enjoy where you are in life, on the way to where you
are going.

Especially the seasons that feel slow and stagnant.
You are growing, even when you don’t feel it.

Find the joy in those slow moments.

Those words have brought me so much comfort and patience in the times where
I have felt the most unsettled in my life and I hope I pass that onto you.

Lastly, please be kind to me as I am also on my own journey of navigating
motherhood and how to love, support and guide you in different ways as you grow.
I may not get it right at times, but I hope you know that everything I do is because I love you.

You will always be the most perfect thing I’ve ever created.

Perfectly and wonderfully made.

Never change who you are, my darling.

Love, mum.

The full story appeared in our print ‘Life Issue’ magazine.