Seeing Your Shadow for the First Time

Baby saw her shadow on the wall and understood what it was today. We were in my office and the lights by my desk gave her a distinct silhouette on the white wall behind us that moved when she moved, etc.

Being as old as I am when you have your first child means you know you have a shadow in all the human senses, and that’s both a good and a bad thing. It’s good, because, theoretically, it should diminish the likelihood of acting out your shadow unconsciously. It’s bad, because who wants to have a shadow in your mind when looking in a baby’s eyes? I admit I was never too interested in accepting my own humanity, and everything that it implies, but I’ve finally got a compelling reason to give it a real shot. Maybe if I can see my shadow as being as real – and as inconsequential – as baby’s shadow looked on the wall today it will help.