My baby just turned four on Wednesday.
I have very mixed feelings about this. While I’m happy to see him grow up and move into new areas of independence, not to mention the freedom this brings me as a mother, I can’t believe how fast he, and his siblings, are growing up. It’s cliche, but where does the time go?!?
I’m glad to be past diapers, potty-training, middle-of-the-night feedings and constant supervision. I’m able to get so much more writing done now that my kids are getting older. At the same time, I have to permanently say goodbye to a precious era of my life; a time of sweet-smelling little bodies, coos and giggles, complete dependence, cuddling whenever and wherever, unconditional love and tiny voices, clothes and footsteps. All I have to remember from those days now are pictures and videos, and some spotty memories. (Which one had the rash all over her face?)
Funny how while you have little ones, time can seem to go so incredibly slowly. You feel like you’re always going to be changing diapers, cleaning up spilled food and calming a fussy toddler. In the day to day grind, it can be hard to remember to enjoy and savor the fleeting moments of baby and toddlerhood. Sometimes you probably think about how much easier this will be when they’re just a little older and more independent. I’ve certainly had those thoughts hundreds of times myself.
When you feel like that, try to remember how fast and short the baby and toddler stages actually are, as incredible as that might sound when you’re up to the roots of your hair in diapers, baby food and spit-up. Granted, there are advantages to having older kids, just as there are advantages to everything in life, but trust me, you will miss your kids’ chubby hands and feet, dimpled knees and elbows, unwavering trust in you, falling asleep on your chest and sweet kisses.
Taking my own advice, I’m going to focus on treasuring the years ahead I have with my kids. My five-year-old isn’t always going to want to marry me, my nine-year-olds aren’t always going to think I’m pretty cool, and my four-year-old certainly isn’t always going to want me to carry him around and give me Eskimo kisses.
It’s all fleeting, really, isn’t it?
Enjoy the moments. They won’t always be little.
