A reflection from July 2023.
We spent the Fourth of July with family in my hometown of Long Beach. There was laughter, a few tears, and a very noticeable absence.
We were missing my sister-in-law.
Being together brought some comfort. We laughed, reminisced, and cried. We were making new memories while missing someone who should have been there with us.
A little piece of my childhood
That day, Lily got to experience something from my childhood: setting off her first “real” firecracker. Watching her excitement was one of those moments that made me stop and take it all in.
My daughter, in my hometown, having an experience I remembered from growing up.
There was joy in that. Even on a day when we were all carrying some sadness.
When a family celebration feels different
I kept thinking about how much can happen in one day. You can be laughing with your family and then feel someone's absence all over again. You can be remembering the past while watching your kid do something for the first time.
Motherhood has been full of moments like that for me. Watching our kids grow brings new experiences, but it also makes us aware of everything that's changed.
We missed someone we loved. Being together mattered. Watching Lily experience a little piece of my childhood mattered, too.
That's what I remember about that Fourth of July: our family together in Long Beach, finding reasons to laugh while still missing her.
xo, Sarah
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