Mama

Today Edith was climbing into my lap chattering to herself and then she looked at me and said, “mama.”

My heart absolutely exploded.

Now, she did not know what she was saying. She’s just learned to make the “muh” sound and often says “mamamamama.” But this was the first time she’d limited it to two syllables and looked at me while saying it, and I was shocked by the emotional avalanche it set off in me.

“You shall inherit all I have, my first and most treasured, perfect child,” I murmured into her hair.

She then picked up a plastic cup at my feet and addressed it as, “dada.”