is tomorrow. It seems like just a few weeks ago I was lamenting the fact that he was starting kindergarten and now he’s just about finished.
It’s such an overused expression, but time really does go by way too fast.
I remember being jealous of my friends whose kids were in school all day. I felt like that would never be me and I’d have little kids at home forever with no break in sight.
Now I go to the grocery store and see young moms with their broods in tow, looking harried and frazzled and I have to smile sympathetically. I remember feeling exactly the same way. Now instead of being one of those young moms with young kids, wishing I were shopping all by myself for once, I’m one of the moms of older kids, shopping while they’re all in school. Instead of trying to hurry as fast as I can to get through the checkout lane with the least amount of whining and begging, I’m frantically sending thoughts of, “Enjoy it while you can! It’ll be gone before you know it,” in rapid succession to every young mom I see.
It’s easy to romanticize a past time period in your life, but the adage is so true — kids grow up faster than you ever think they will, despite how long you may feel the days drag on when they’re still dependent. Try not to wish these days away because soon, ever so soon, your son will never again come out of his room, wearing a sheepish smile, all rosy-cheeked and tousle-haired, from his nap. Your daughter will never again climb on your lap with her blankie and suck her thumb and fall asleep as she listens to your heart beat.
I miss those days. You will too.
Do you ever find yourself wishing that your kids weren’t so dependent?
I just wanted to say thanks…I had just walked into my house in tears after dropping my daughter off for her next to the last day of pre-school. I always cherish these moments. When I’m most tired, I try to remember all of the unwanted quiet time I will be getting when they no longer want my attention. It really goes by too fast.