This is one of the reasons we become parents--to experience the joy and heartache of growth all over again, yet from a different perspective. Any parent can tell you that watching your child encounter certain "firsts" can go either way--I know my mother sobbed the first time I got dumped. Her heart broke for me.
There are always firsts, every day. We are just so used to them by now that we don't notice them. Having children or even being around children who are just experiencing the world really helps us to realize that.
Personally, despite some of the pains I've suffered in my life, I wouldn't erase a moment of it. It's not worth rexperiencing any firsts for me--I have firsts every day in my life and I strive to have them--whether it's something as small as driving down a new street, visiting a new town, making a new friend, starting a new job, or eating a new dish--there are always firsts. Not enough firsts for you? Move. Moving always provides a round of firsts--"the first time I did that in this house" etc.
As for firsts in love--anyone can tell you that every relationship is different. With my current SO, everything just kind of clicked into place really naturally, but I still had no idea what was really going on. It took my best friend hitting me over the head with it to realize that, hey, yeah, I did love this guy. It was so different than any other relationship I'd ever been in, because it was so fast and intense. It's been so different than everything else because he's right there with me, step for step. Certainly, you'll never fall in love again just like that "first" time, but there will be "better" ones that will make the first time seem like puppy love.
__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau
|