Almost every parent you’ll ever hear from talks about how quickly their children grown up. Or, they’ll quote the “days are long, but the years are short” bit. But, as an “at-home,” homeschooling mama, I get to be with these lovely kiddos ALL. DAY. LONG. (plus nights). Time doesn’t exactly fly. Not to say I’m immune to the gut-wrenching, bittersweet feeling of our kids growing up. Yes, of course, it’s wild to think about them as babies or toddlers and look at them now. Yes, when I want to scream and pull my hair out and run away from them, my heart almost immediately aches at the thought of our limited overall time under the same roof. But, I wouldn’t exactly say that their ages are whizzing by. Other people’s kids? Sure. Even kids who are the exact same ages as mine, will lead me into mind-boggling disbelief when I realize how old they are or how much they’ve grown. Friends’ kids, my siblings’ kids, celebrities’ kids? Where did the time go?! How are they so old?? But, my own little darlings’ timeline does not zoom by at the same rate.
Which is great, don’t get me wrong. This time is an absolute blessing, and as frustrating as it can be at times, I seriously wouldn’t have it any other way. But, because we’re in this unique position of spending so much time together, I just sometimes feel like I can’t relate to the tears of disbelief other parents might have upon their children’s birthdays or milestones. I’m more like, “Wait, aren’t you already that age? Cuz I really thought you were.”
So, I loved when a character from my favorite shows had this small, almost unnoticeable aside, while showing photos of her kids, saying, “They grow up so…slowly.” And then I overheard the stay-at-home dad on Bluey say something to his daughter, like, “Aren’t you already six?” And she assures him she’s not yet. Yes! Finally some parents who understand! Maybe it’s a SAHP thing, because I also remember some lines from one of my favorite books, More Love, Less Panic that allude to this stretching of time that can happen with young children. Maybe it’s because I’m given opportunities in my day to reflect on where the kids have been and where they’re headed. Maybe it’s because I really, truly do NOT miss their baby/toddler stages AT ALL. I don’t sit and weep over their old onesies. Those were some of the toughest years of my life, and I am grateful to be past them. But, whatever it is, it’s another of the zillion parent curses/blessings. I’ll certainly cry and shake my head at this ridiculous post someday when my heart is aching at how much they’ve grown and how I don’t hear running and whining and screams of “MoOoom” from the next room. I’ll always be grateful for this time I get to spend with our kids. Even when this treasured time seems to c…r…a..w..l… by, minute by long minute.
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