Running out of Time

So, around this time 4 years ago Hubby and I made a BIG decision.  We decided to have a baby and about a month later we were staring at a positive pregnancy test. Gulp...  At that moment a countdown started in my head and heart.  As each of my girls achieve milestones and learn new skills I am keenly aware of how fast they are growing.  Time is flying past us and in the quiet moments when they are sleeping or with someone else I realize that we are running out of time with them.


I don't mean that in a depressing, scary kind of way.  I mean it in a "from the moment you find out you're having a baby, you have 9 months of pregnancy and 18 years that you are responsible for this human and their development" kind of way.

Parents,  we only get a limited amount of time with our kids.  Hopefully we get at least 18 years. Hopefully we get more than that.  Hopefully we get to have a good relationship with them after they turn 18 and leave our home.  The truth is though that not all of us will get all of those things.

So what does that mean for us parents? Does that mean that we need to run ourselves ragged trying to make every moment count? I don't think so.   Not every moment is to be enjoyed, I mean, really , who likes changing poopy diapers or listening to a screaming toddler? No one?? Parenting is hard and some days are just miserable.

What I am saying is that we do need to carve out time to make moments count.  I know that there is work to be done, but if we don't purposely make time to be present with our children, someday we will wake up and our kids will be grown and we won't even know them.

So take, no, MAKE some time to BE with your children.  Play a game with them, snuggle them, read a book with them and always give them hugs and kisses.  You never know exactly how much time you will have with your kids but every day that passes IS one less day.  Don't waste them.