Pink Lines

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Personal Stories, Poetry

I remember when the pink lines on white stood out brilliantly like pink peppermint candy. Those lines said it all, spoke the truth – my life with my husband was about to change, slowly like pouring molasses. We had been married for two years, so we were ready to start a family. In less than nine months, we would receive a gift, a tiny human who would depend on us, the adults, to highlight the beauty that life offers and to protect her or him from harm.

When I thought deeply about what it would feel like to be pregnant and what was to come, the notion of pain grabbed my attention! I assumed that I had a low tolerance, but soon enough, I would learn more about my capabilities. Little did I know that in less than forty weeks, I would give birth naturally without medication, and then a second time a few years later, again without medication. I learned so much about myself.

Then my brain started working overtime, and you know what trouble that can cause. I was nervous about becoming a mom. Will I know what to do in each circumstance? Will my reactions be intuitive? What if I fail at the most important career in my opinion, being a parent?

The insecurities huddled together creating a force that couldn’t be accessed. They hurled at me like hurricane winds. Then the momentous day arrived; our baby was ready for the meet and greet. We had decided to let the gender remain concealed until we saw our precious bundle. After a 6 ½ hour labor, she entered our world with rosebud lips, and those insecurities scattered like ants.

My husband stood by the bed, comforting me in any way he could, and then he felt privileged to cut the umbilical cord. What an experience for him! It was his out-of-body moment just like giving birth to a little human was mine. In that instance of time, I became a mom, and he became a dad. New hats were immediately added to our wardrobes, along with new responsibilities. We would do our best so that our little girl would know how much her parents love her, so that she would feel safe.

Almost four years later, our family of four was complete when our son came into our world, bringing the same out-of-body experience for my husband and me. For the second time, we let the gender stay unknown. So when we saw our little boy, elation flowed through our hearts. We had a daughter and son; two tiny bundles of cuteness blessed our lives.

Looking back, watching decades soar by, flipping through memories in our photo albums remind us of how special it was to witness our daughter and son grow and learn, and turn into kind, hard working adults, making us proud a million times over. The laughs, the scary moments, the tears, even the minimal tantrums when they were young, I’d live them all over again, and so would my husband. And worrying about them doesn’t end just because they’re adults. They’ll always be our ‘babies’ regardless of their age.

The most rewarding though is the realization that we did something right because in their adulthood, we have strong relationships with them both. We’ve entered our mid-sixties, so the ‘kids’ are in their thirties. We talk and text all the time, the communication line remains open that travels in both directions. And since they live out of state, pursuing their dreams, paving their paths, we all fly east and west to visit as often as we can.

As I grow older, life seems to become shorter, so the love of my husband and children are the greatest, most priceless gifts. These three amazing people are my everything. Anything else that comes my way in the form of a blessing is a bonus.

First Breath

With every new miracle of life
answers aren’t scripted in the stars,
but I knew since your very first breath
my life would become yours.

Through innocent eyes and curious touch
each new discovery you shared,
your smile grew bigger than the sun,
your heart’s elation declared.

You stowed dreams in the clouds,
imaginings rose higher than the heavens.
Cuddling you in that first euphoric light
made me fall in love with you in seconds.

Life has blossomed into delight and wonder
in every part of its glowing greatness,
and with each ounce of my being,
my enduring love for you is ageless.

(Published in my book, Ever So Gently)

our little girl at 6 months
our little boy at 7 months

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I took a walk down memory lane,
and though this is my story and my husband’s,
I hope you enjoyed the stroll.

Thanks for visiting, and have a beautiful week ahead. 🩷

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
Photo by Snack Toronto on Pexels.com

Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡

Lauren Scott

Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry
Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book)
Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry
Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose
Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry
Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry
Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Co-Author – This Is How We Grow
Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores
Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023
Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024
Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025

108 thoughts on “Pink Lines”

      1. You’re so welcome, my friend! I hope you are enjoying the weekend. Up here it’s Thanksgiving weekend, though cold and a bit drizzly. Sweater weather.

  4. This is such a beautiful post, Lauren, and you made me think of the day my daughter was born and all of my fears and insecurities. I knew that I would never achieve anything more important than that birth. She was so tiny and fragile, I was almost afraid to touch her. But she has been the greatest joy of my life, and I am so relieved that she has grown up to be a stable, loving, responsible adult.

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  5. This one hits right in the feels, Lauren. What a sweet essay and poem to share your love for your family, and what a joy to read. Loved the photos, too. You all look so happy. Wishing you and yours many more years of bliss, my friend. 😊

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  9. Aww Lauren this is such a beautiful heartwarming post.
    Thank you for sharing your photographs and your poem.
    I hope life shines brightly on you and yours always.
    Hugs and lots of love dear friend xoxoxo
    ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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      1. The baby pictures are adorable Lauren.
        and your love shines through your words.
        I never had the maternal instinct for some reason.
        I was a nanny for many years though.
        I think I have more patience with the elderly.
        Hugs and so much love back to you dear friend 🤗❤️🤗

  14. So many of us can relate to what you’ve written so elequently here. Unfortunately in olden days men were not allowed into the birth chamber so I was not permitted to be by my wife’s side and that would have been a moving experience in itself. But a woman’s connection with a child starts in the womb where the child is aware of voice and the joys and sorrows of its mother as it grows so that familiarity is already there before the mother holds the child in her arms for the first time. That is why it is so tragic when the mother is lost in birth and the child has to build a whole new relationship all over again on birth. It would have a huge impact on a childs well being at that development stage.

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    1. Thanks for your kind words, Ian, and my husband and I were glad that he was allowed in the room. I can’t imagine it any other way. I’m sorry you weren’t able to be with your wife. But you’re right about the woman’s connection with her baby that starts in the womb. I had two great deliveries, but I know some women aren’t as lucky. And it is tragic when their story ends like you described. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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  16. aww, this is so sweet, and your words are filled with the anticipation, the excitement, the worry and the joy, all rolled together with the wonder of becoming a parent. I love their beautiful baby pictures

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  21. I remember thinking as we were leaving the hospital, There must be some mistake. They’re actually letting us take our baby home. 31+ years later—the best decisions of our lives.

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  22. I can see my Mama in your words, Lauren. That’s the feeling of a proud mom, seeing all the effort and sacrifices that have been fruitful. Stay amazing and God bless!

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  24. So beautiful, Lauren… to read your description of such important and wonderful moments in your life and your family! You describe everything splendidly, a joy to follow along. Some things you mention, in fact quite a few, are so true and I could relate perfectly to your experience. You say “… and those insecurities scattered like ants.” I felt exactly the same. Despite the newness of such situations, life has us equipped, somehow magically, for all its challenges, only for us to trust and go with its flow… and beauty. Thank you, Lauren, for such a lovely post! 💕

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    1. Thanks for your beautiful words, Nicole, and I’m glad my memories resonated. I love what you said, “Despite the newness of such situations, life has us equipped, somehow magically, for all its challenges, only for us to trust and go with its flow…” We went with the flow and so did you, and all is good and wonderful. Thanks again, and have a great Monday and week ahead! 💖

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  31. Beautiful reflections, Lauren. Thank you for sharing, and the photos are adorable. What you said about keeping lines of communication open is so important, and parenthood is an amazing gift.

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    1. Thanks so much, Edward. I’m glad you enjoyed this stroll. We’re a family where everyone ‘wants the floor’ so there is no problem with talking. 🙂 Communication is important in any relationship, and I agree about parenthood. Thanks again!

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  33. You guys definitely parented well if you’re still close with both kids. And such a touching poem, having that bond with loved ones is something many of us find most important!

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  34. A beautiful, heartfelt poem, Lauren, and I loved the little story about how the little bundles came into your life. We don’t have to be perfect parents, just kind and loving ones to the best of our abilities. That effort creates loving, resilient, and happy human beings. ❤

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  35. Lauren, what a lovely post. I had no idea you are in your mid-sixties. You look about forty! This must be your fountain of youth, your lovely children. What a lovely way to honor them and your lives together.

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    1. Thanks, Marsha! I’m not sure where you came up with ’40!’ Even my author photo is only a few years old. 🙂 I’m 64, and not shy about saying my age. I’ve earned it! And hope that I have many, many more years to go! Hubby is 65, and I’ll be there in March. So I’m rounding off. LOL Thank you for your lovely words. My children and hubby are my life. It sounds cliche, but it’s the truth. And they keep me feeling young. 💖

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      3. Wow! I hope they were healthy all the way. My mom’s cousin lived to 97. I met him when he was about 86, and he seemed like about 70. The rest of my family died younger – like 80s. My father died at 63, but he was always frail.

      4. They had minor issues, but nothing serious until the very end. They were very lucky. Even living into the 80s is a good life. I just hope that we have good health all the way too. 63 is so young, Marsha. I’m sorry…

  37. Lauren you brought my memories back with your awesome story and I loved your poem and pictures of your daughter and son. Even I have a daughter and son and we keep in touch with them everyday on the phone and sometimes they come to meet us as they are busy in their work. A lovely post. Stay happy we have our husbands to be with and have a nice life with them.

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    1. Thanks so much for sharing your family, Kamal, and I’m glad you can relate. I appreciate your lovely words and I’m happy you enjoyed this post. Yes, we’re both fortunate to have great husbands and sons and daughters. 🩷

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  38. Very nice stroll Lauren. These lines are so touching. I can relate to the joy and the doubts. It’s nice to see the story enfolding so nicely for all of you. We can feel the love shared 💙.

    Have a lovely day. xoxo

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