Motherhood has a way of slowing us down, not always in schedule, but in perspective.
Through my children, I’ve been reminded how much wonder exists in the everyday. The kind of awe that makes you stop mid-task. The kind that turns an ordinary morning into something sacred.
This is one of those reminders.
A Little Childlike Awe
We’ve had a pair of sandhill cranes that hang around our property during the warmer months. Each morning, my son checks to see if they’re still nearby, he even added it to his morning checklist.
But truthfully, I’m just as excited.
When I was a kid, these birds were endangered. I maybe saw them a few times growing up. But now? We see them almost daily, and the awe has never faded. Recently, we even spotted a baby crane walking with its parents while running errands. My joy was just as childlike as my kids’.
Eagles get the same reaction in our house. There are a few nests nearby that we keep an eye on. Just last week, while my daughter and I were working on a project, we heard my son shout, “Look, you guys! An eagle!” as one soared over our house, closer than we’ve ever seen.
And then there are the deer.
My son and I have had two close (but safe) encounters with fawns along the roadside. Both times, we slowed to a stop and watched them bounce away into the trees.
There’s something powerful about the awe we feel in those small, natural encounters.
Maybe we’re seeing these moments more because of where we live. Maybe these animals are simply more common now.
But I also think we’re noticing them more because we’ve learned to look for them, and to feel the wonder when we do.
Motherhood has sharpened that awareness in me. It has softened me to the small things. It has reminded me that awe doesn’t require travel or grandeur. Sometimes it’s just outside your window.
An Invitation to Notice
I hope that you find a moment this week, however small, that stops you with joy and awe. A bird overhead. A sunset through the trees. A laugh from the backseat. A quiet snowfall. A child pointing at something you might have missed.
What’s been one of your favorite childlike, awe-filled moments lately? I’d truly love to hear.
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