Today Hope and I shared a little mom & daughter time looking for a special spring outfit. In the past our shopping escapades were more like painful battles with Hope shaking her head at anything I suggested. She even turned down a beautifully tailored Christian Dior cream coat (that fit her like it was couture) because she said it looked like “the mean lady on Harry Potter”. After each time we tried to get new clothes I felt like I pulled teeth and her face said the same. Nothing of what I’d hoped for us.

Today we turned a corner. My sunshine and I grabbed a quick bite from the cafe next door and sat outside on the steps of the boutique before it opened. It was like a scene from a movie – us sitting there laughing and talking. The air was brisk but we didn’t notice. When we got inside we just slowly perused the shelves and the racks together and this time the mood was totally different. Perhaps I was rushed before? Maybe I didn’t listen as well as I could have in the past? Maybe she wasn’t ready yet?

After collecting a dozen things to try on, we headed to the dressing room still giggling. I actually had to take a moment to thank my lucky stars when I watched this beautiful little girl prance before the mirror in a sleeveless tailored dress, something she never felt comfortable in before. I’m not sure it was her voice or seeing my own satisfied reflection in the mirror that shook me back to reality. “Can I get this one Mom? It’s perfect!” she asked with a big, confident smile. “Of course Darling.” I said without looking at a price tag (something unheard of in this economy!) I wanted her to have that moment in her closet forever. Or maybe I wanted it there for me too? Just to remember that the dark times don’t last. The sun will come out…