Growing up

[CelticMom]

I'll always hear the words of my well meaning parents when I was a young parent, "Cherish every moment"....."They grow up so fast, don't they"....."In the blink of an eye....."  Well, girls, I blinked.

The existential experience of parenting never ceases to amaze me.  I can honestly say, that yes, I've cherished most every moment.  I have little regrets...oh sure there are some, but that's the human experience.  We've all grown as a result.  Isn't that the thing though...growing?  Aren't we all growing, right along with our beloved children?  This time in my life, I think back to the little things.  Moving day from CA to MO and moving furniture out the door to start our life anew far far away.  We pulled Dickens' bed away from the wall it sat snuggly against for the past 5 years....there, lined up perfectly was a dainty line of boogers!  Yup, apparently it's quite soothing to pick your nose while contemplating sleep when you are young.......and gently, painstakingly place them in a row on the wall with near perfect accuracy.  Did I think of wiping them off for the new owners of our home?  I sure did, for about 2 seconds......they were there when we pulled away for the last time.

There are memories of Gock as the cutest little tot you ever saw running to keep up with his big sister while playing with absolute abandon in the warm summer sun.....the two of them, and their unique bond will warm my heart every time I think of it.....what a blessing they are to me, but what a life long blessing they will be to one another.  I thank God daily that He saw fit to give them each a protector...eachother, in addition to Him.

I know we'll all survive.....Lord knows, we've survived (literally and figuratively) much in our time shared together under the same roof.  But what I find so amazing is the hustle and bustle of rearing our children, as it never allows time to prepare for this time in all of our lives....we are in constant motion day after day, year after year, until one day, you blink, and the time has passed and present is here once more...staring you in the face.....asking you, "Ready for what's next?"  Do I have to answer that right now?  Can I just sit back, have a good cry, and relish in the memories I'm so terribly grateful I have....just for a little while more?  Can I?

~Patty

[bzmomkfor]

Apr. 15, 2007 at 8:59 PM beautifully written Patty, thank you for sharing something so close to your heart.

[mommyx9]

Apr. 15, 2007 at 11:52 PM

We can - we do - the time though.....where DOES it go.....Reading this is just too familiar. I remember staring at my infants faces, vowing to burn it into my memory, because already I was starting to realize the runaway train that time is! Enjoy that cry, reveling in a Mother's job so well done - (yet never finished!)

{{BIG HUGS}}

Sally (mommyx9) 

[jejstover]

Apr. 16, 2007 at 10:44 AM

 I look at my 25 and 21 year old sons today as they come through the door... tall, handsome,  smiling...
I remember them as tan little boys with curly hair, laughing  - playing in the back yard with all of their summer toys strewn across the lawn ... blow up swimming pool, beach balls, water guns, bubble makers, etc...

I remember getting out my old record albums, putting on Neil Young, Harry Chapin, etc... and dancing with my little ones.  Picking them up off the couch, swinging one, then the other, around the room, laughing...

I remember their special words ... iggles, memmies, ba-bunks, etc... (my husband and I still speak the language today, much to the boys' chagrin :-)

So many wonderful memories ... so many wonderful years ....

Note: there were a few years ... say 16, 17, 18, that weren't quite so wonderful, but I'll save those for another post ;- )  knowing it all came out all right in the wash.

[Irishmom123]

May. 14, 2007 at 10:45 PM What a beautiful story. I feel like I just read a book. Are you Irish? I am new. We moved here from Ireland. So this has been a great group to find. Just wanted to say nice writing.

[yvette1]

Jan. 11, 2009 at 1:44 AM

I can't stop smiling over the booger part....beautiful writing on that...