And at the other end of life…
Sitting in church, the meeting about to start: a quiet, “Would you like to hold her?” knowing of course I absolutely would.
Always wear soft clothes. You never know when you’ll get to cuddle an infant.
A slight, steady rocking, a tiny hand on my arm. I turned her to be facing towards her mommy, and instead of fussing at the space separating them, she relaxed into my arms.
After several minutes of mutual bliss she melted entirely and was asleep.
Five minutes before the end of the meeting, of her own timing, she suddenly blinked and stirred. She’s not quite old enough to sit up on her own yet but she managed to turn and look up into my face and hair, puzzling it out: you are not my mommy.
Her mommy smiled at her.
And that was enough. Sweet Janey stayed quietly happy where she was until it was time to go.