I was in a public parking lot, trying to get my starving, exhausted, tantrum-throwing kids into the car when a little old lady tottered up to me and said, “Enjoy it while they’re little! It goes by so fast!”
I looked up at her as I was karate chopping my son’s stiff-as-a-board body into his car seat and gave her a smile. A smile that said, “I want to strangle you.”
I wanted to strangle her because it’s true. It does go by so fast. And I know I should be enjoying every minute of it. BUT I CAN’T!
I can’t because raising young kids isn’t always enjoyable. Sometimes it is—there are precious moments of absolute parental bliss. Moments when my son places a chubby hand over my larger, dishwash-weary hand and asks me to play with him. Moments when my daughter blows me a kiss that I catch and tuck into my heart under my shirt. Moments when the three of us snuggle head-to-head-to-head reading a book.
But a lot of the time having young kids sucks. It’s relentless and boring and exhausting and infuriating. And the fact that I’m not loving every tantrum-filled, pooped-smeared, yogurt-coated, sleep-deprived moment makes me panic. Because it’s going by so fast.
The days of my children’s childhoods are slipping through my hands faster than E. coli-infested sand and I know I’m not enjoying it enough, lady in the parking lot, so please don’t remind me.
When I creep into my kids’ rooms at night and watch them sleep, my heart fills with love and peace … and regret. Regret that we didn’t all enjoy the day that just ended more.
I know one day the pain of it all will fade and I’ll look back with a rosy tinge and think to myself, “I really enjoyed when my kids were little. It all went by so fast.”
But the one thing I promise to never do, is stop a young mom in a parking lot and tell her to enjoy it. Tell her it all goes so fast.
Instead I’ll tell her that I know raising young kids is hard. I’ll tell her it’s OK to cry. It’s OK to scream. It’s OK to fall to pieces at 5pm when the kids are pushing her every last button. I’ll tell her to breathe. I’ll tell her to hide in the bathroom if she needs to. I’ll tell her to laugh at the insanity that is her life. And I’ll tell her to kiss her baby’s toes, not because they won’t be little forever, but because it will bring her a moment of joy in her otherwise insane, chaotic day.
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Thank you for that! That was exactly what I needed to read today. I was feeling guilty for thinking “My kids are driving me NUTS!” You said it JUST RIGHT.
I just discovered you and you are fabulous. I watched your Frozen parody…Let It Go. And, What Does My Kid Say? Loved them. This post is so true though. It is exactly how I feel and I get it. I have 3 kids….5, 6 and 10. Whew-eeee it is hard. I love it but it sucks sometimes and I am sad knowing it will be over one day 🙁 Thanks for posting!!!
Hi Michelle! I’m so happy you found me, thanks for the kind words.
I’m writing this through wet eyes and a lump in my throat because it’s so so true. I feel like I’m in a never ending cycle of frustration and rage at my 3 year old’s behavior and guilt that I’ll never appreciate these years. But I don’t appreciate them. I hate them. I am a high school teacher and deal with the irrational unformed frontal lobes of 14-18 year olds all day, but at least I can reason with them. One of my friends used the term “Threenager” the other day, which is spot on. Thank you for the article, it speaks the truth.
Oh Bri, I’m so there with you girl. It’s an impossible situation. We love our kids, we want to love raising them, but it’s so HARD sometimes it’s impossible to love it. Hang in there! xo, Deva
I read this immediately after losing it with my three-year-old because he’d woken his two-year-old brother up from a nap (getting that kid to sleep should be an Olympic event), and it pretty much sums up how I feel about parenting young kids. It’s hard to remember that just a few years ago, I was in this same place with my older two and that eventually, it will be…well, maybe not easier, but something.
Still, I won’t miss the naptime battles or the diapers, even if the loss of those things does mean that my kids are growing up (too fast).
Kay I so feel your pain. My kids were both terrible nappers. I had to rock, soothe, drive around for literally hours to get them to nap. It was hell. I couldn’t wait till they stopped napping unlike every other parent on earth. Because for me it wasn’t a break. It was hard. Hang in there!
I could understand when people say the “enjoy it now” phrase because when I see a newborn, I think the same thing. My daughter is 2 1/2, I miss when she was an infant and how great it felt holding her in my arms when she was that tiny. But when she is having a tantrum, the last thing I want to hear is “enjoy it now”! When she is being sweet then I don’t mind that phrase, but don’t talk to me when she’s driving me crazy lol.
I remember last summer when I was in Target with my daughter, she was throwing a tantrum. I’m sure you know how embarrassing that is. Another mother walking past me with her cart says to me, “I know how you feel”. And for some reason that made me feel a little better. Definitely better than “enjoy it now” lol.
I love that. “I know how you feel” says everything you need to hear in that moment.
You articulate well but I am guessing when you are a little old lady, you will not tell that young mother what you think you will say now. When my youngest was born, I had 4 kids 5 and under. Now that I am a grandmother, I honestly don’t remember all the temper tantrums and hard times. I remember the funny little things they did. It seams like yesterday but yet it seems like forever ago. I think when those little old ladies reach out to say that the time goes by fast, it is more of a reflection as they are trying to let you know that these stages will pass and you will remember fondly the kiss blown and the little hand that reaches out to you. Don’t be discouraged, but encouraged that you will make it and you will look back with wonderful memories. <3
I’m so happy you have good memories of the madness that is raising young kids! Gives us hope! xo
My “kids” are now 27 and 22, I absolutely hated it when people said it all goes so fast! You will miss it when they are grown.
I wanted to say easy enough for you to say , you get to sleep all night!!
I promised myself that I would never say that to a young mom!! EVER!
I do occasionally say, hold on just a little longer – it wont last forever! And I say loved every stage my kids went through, I loved watching them grow up and I truly love them being grown up!
PS My first child was a girl and my second is a boy!!!
Love this post! I also think it’s important to know that each day doesn’t have to be perfect and happy. It’s ok to go through struggles, it’s ok that the kids cried and fought here and there. Everyday they grow and they can’t grow only knowing the happy times. They need to experience lots of things, good and not so good, bad, sad, etc. to become well rounded and learn how to deal with things that come their way. I know that regret at the end of the day; maybe I shouldn’t have yelled, maybe I shouldn’t have punished her for that, I wish I had more patience, etc. But that list can go on forever, every night. So I try to remember that we are not perfect, and each day doesn’t/shouldn’t have to be perfect. Kids are very resilient and forgiving and best of all loving! We learn and grow together with our kids, so try not to feel so guilty. 🙂
You are doing just fine. I also had no family, a day job, a husband with a night job, it was so much. It wasn’t all roses but …I did not expect it to be, so I do not think it bothered me as much as it does my younger friends. I expected to be exhausted, I expected to have a lot of action, I expected that the kids were sometimes their worst in public, I knew I’d have no sleep, that I would age 10 years in two, I knew I could not be like some rosy tv show and I did the best I could and you are as well. It was still too short. I would take the time of raising young ones to live over in a heartbeat, if God ever gives me the choice. A year is a year until they turn 12 and then a year is a puff of smoke. The kids remember none of the troubles and all of the fun, the joy, the surprises, the early morning wildflowers, the fascination of watching the ants. I KNEW I WAS RIGHT, to live in the moment and not wish too far ahead, I made sure I loved the happy times, the sleeping faces, the frosting smiles and I never regretted ONCE leaving the living room a mess while we read extra stories or played hide and seek. So just do as you can, people mean well, they are just wishing thye’d have slowed down themselves, it is a wish for you when they say that….a wish that you will know the love times. I remember one Mother’s day my husband asked what I wanted to do. I don’t know what I said, but I remember what I thought: Take the kids somewhere, have fun, just let me sleep. And then I felt horribly guilty.
In hindsight, it goes by fast. But when you’ve got a newborn and a toddler and it’s a bad day, one trip through Costco takes eons.
At least, years after the fact, you can finally chuckle a bit about the day you nursed the baby while sitting on the edge of a pallet of cat little and trying to keep the other one from making a break for the front of the store. 🙂
Thank you, Deva, for your honesty. Sometimes I feel like a freak because all of my friends on Facebook post how wonderful their kids are, and how fabulous it is being a parent, when I feel like Good Lord if I don’t get a 5 minute break soon, I’m going to jump out a window. Things got slightly better when my daughter went to school, as now I get “all day off” (while working full time from home). But now she saves up all of the insanity for when she gets home, and we get blasted with all of the stress and frustration and need to release the control she’s held on so tightly to all day, that instead of several minor tantrums spread out through the day, we get one HUGE tantrum that takes up much of the evening.
Anyway, thank you for your blog (and your hysterical videos). I feel much less like an outlier in a world of people who adore their children every moment of every day, and rather a member of a subset of parents who find this whole thing exceptionally difficult, wonderful, traumatic, irritating, rewarding, important, and frustrating.
Thank you for putting words to all those feelings I have. I never could have put it better. You are wonderful and a realistic mom. I am glad you found an outlet to express your self.
I think the best saying that describes raising kids is “The days are long but the years are short”
I remember when my four were little and I thought I would never see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now I’m ‘one car length’ away from the exit. It’s bittersweet, but exciting and yet I’m already thinking about grandchildren someday! Yes, I’ll be the crazy lady who clucks over little babies, but I promise I’ll keep my mouth closed and just smile.
Amen! I had 3 kids in 3 years and there were plenty of days I thought would never end. I kept thinking that my life would make a great sitcom, but I was the only one there to see it all happen. Thank you for putting that in words so well.
This IS me! I had my one and only son at 41. I waited forever to have the child I always wanted, and now, working full time at a NOT child-friendly company, and Michael having asthma, being in and out of the hospital and Dr. offices–it IS going by so fast, too fast! And I too feel the regret, EVERY night, regret that I yelled, that I corrected, that I took time out of the day to color my hair (from a box). EVERY night, I feel like the day went to fast and I spent way too much time, not enjoying it… ( LOVE YOUR WORK!!!! It hits home and makes me smile and feel not so alone! )
OMG I just had a lady at Wal-Mart say this exact thing to me while I was smiling at her I was throwing every curse word I could think of at her in my head. She followed it up with a comment of how much she missed the sounds of a baby crying. Well guess what lady I’m trying to nurse my 10 month old teething nightmare baby right now who’s melting down like the world is ending cause i won’t let her chew my nipple off so at this moment I really don’t give a **** about how much I will miss her cry one day and how quickly she grows up. Right now I just want to get out of this situation with both nipples in tact and a happy baby. I loves this blog I often feel so guilty for not enjoying every minute with my daughter it feels so much better to know it’s normal and every mom goes through this. THANK YOU!
I just read two of your articles back to back. As the mother of three 20-something kids who were all born within five years, I have to say; with all the complaints you have about your kids (especially thinking it’s ok to refer to your son as an “A-hole”, my guess is, you probably shouldn’t have had kids since they’re such an annoyance to you. And trust me, they pick up on it as well.
I know mothers like you. The kind who will drop their kids off at daycare on their day off. The kind of mom who doesn’t sit and have a family dinner every night. The kind of mom who will drag their kid to the store/mall with them when its their naptime and then get pissed when they don’t behave. The kind of mom who lets their kid run wild in a restaurant/airplane/store.
Sickening.
Donna,
I am on your side — but maybe you were a little harsh. Moms don’t Always behave like that – they do have their moments, though. There is a mentality that they are entitled to have time for themselves – which I don’t understand or thought about when I was raising my kids. Having kids is a life changer – It’s not about ‘you’ – it’s about doing the best for them. Suck it up – it does go by fast. I know in this fast paced electronic age, kids are ignored because of cell phones or whatever. I’ve seen it – where the little one is looking up at his mom saying something & she was engrossed with her cell phone. I think, “he’s talking to you – pay attention”. I don’t know what the answer is or why mom’s are different in this new generation. But something has changed.
Wow! Perfectly and so eloquently said!!!! You are amazing 🙂
I just read this and sadly I have those 5pm breakdowns and I hide in the bathroom. I will sit in there and cry for a while. I have two kids and I’m always tired. I fell asleep in the living room floor before noon today. Their father kept an eye on them so I could sleep while they played around (and on) me.
I wish your videos were around when our girls were little. They SO represent all of the ups and downs of being a mom of younger kids! 🙂 I did not have a lot of support when our girls were young, and there were some days… most days… I just wanted to cry – the kitchen and den I had just cleaned were toy-filled.. again… I just wanted to sit and read a real book.. and ‘Madeline’ for the 1,000th time doesn’t count.. Or even to have a ‘grown-up’ conversation… and if I heard the “Dragon Tales” theme one more time…. However, our girls are now teenagers (18 and 16). The 18-yr-old is away at college – Freshman – and my heart breaks. I yearn for when they were little. Yes, the house was a mess and they were crawling all over me and getting into things (oi… the stories I could tell you… like the one where the now-18-yr-old decided to use her front teeth to break the seal of the blueberry jam I had made the night before and talk her little sister into having a ‘tea party’ BEHIND her bed with the jam….)…. But honestly, I would give almost anything to have them little again – there’s NOTHING like their hugs and snuggles and “Mom, I love you.” And yes, I agree – if any woman has young children, PLEASE try to enjoy the little things they do that make the exhausting, frustrating, I-want-to-pull-my-hair-out-horror just disappear .. ok, for an instant it disappears; but then it comes rushing back like a tornado… We love our children, but sometimes we need to be reminded that it’s ok to be angry or frustrated with them and NOT feel guilty about it. Hence, your videos. 🙂 Shared ’em on FB. 🙂
Thanks for sharing my videos 🙂
Yes- I am appreciating the hugs and kisses these days like crazy and can’t imagine the day when they are gone. Thank you for your perspective and insight, Amy. xo
I wanted to say yoir post was right on! I have two amazing daughters. My youngest has a one year old son, and my 21 year old is due with her daughter any day now. I think WOW where did the time go? I hate the fact that when they were infants you can’t wait til they eat people food, talk, are potty trained, in school, driving, out of school, and out of the house! Now they are starting their families, and I find myself heartbroken. Yes, I prayed for the day they were out on their own. Don’t get me wrong I love my “SPAWN” and wish I could go back and have a do over. Every moment isn’t blissful, and if someone says it is, they need their head examined. Your videos and blogs are great! I look forward to the next post!
*Your
Thank you for the awesome perspective, Niki. It does go by so fast and yet it can be so hard in the moment. And thanks for the kind words about my videos and posts 🙂
Thanks for putting it out there. It’s frustrating to hear it well intentioned or not.
You’re so welcome. xo
It’s my husbands bowling night – one man down, and my son and I don’t have anywhere to go, be or do. My son wants me to watch him kick a football over the house. And this is why I can’t wait for it to be dark at 5:00. I’d post that on facebook but sometimes you can just hear the, “You better enjoy…..” before you can remove your fingers from the keyboard. I so get it – sometimes it’s terribly boring and I just want to do my own thing for a minute – because I’ve got one man down. I do miss my little boy. I’d love to reach back in the past and hug him,squeeze him and kiss his fat cheeks but I’d put him right back and come to the present 😉 Maybe we will understand that perspective one day. But I vow to never say those words to anyone.
It’s so hard. You want to hold on to the present. But it can be so hard and overwhelming in the present and like you said, you just want a moment alone. It’s a no win, really.
I loved this. I have a 5 year old girl and 3-year-old twins (a boy and a girl). Some days it’s just a constant battle- them against me. At the end of the day when they’re asleep and peaceful, I feel so guilty that I didn’t cherish the day more. Kids are tough though. We know it doesn’t last forever but that doesn’t make it any easier. On top of it all, I’m doing it alone since their father and I split 2 years ago. He sees them most weekends but does not support me in discipline or anything. He actually does anything to make my kids think he’s the fun and cool parent by giving in to anything and everything so now my daughter screams that she is going to tell daddy if I tell her no. It’s hard.
Rachel – I have the exact same feelings of regret after they go to bed. I actually wrote about it: https://mylifesuckers.com/love-mommy/
I’m sorry to hear about the split with the kids dad and how he’s chosen to co-parent (or not) with you. Hang in there, mama. xo, Deva
So true! Not every minute is easy, or enjoyable. And the reminder that is goes by quickly just makes you feel guilty. Don’t worry, a lot of people are in the same boat. http://www.marypoopins.org
I think this is awesome. I have three children of my own and it is so very hard, but at the same time fun. They are 7 and my twins are 5 so I am just getting into the slow down fun stage of my babies. When they were babies and sometimes now i felt like I was gonna lose my mind, but I wouldn’t change it for the world 🙂
My son doesn’t throw a lot of tantrums, but when he does, I am thankful for it because I know he is full of fight. And it is the fight in him that he needs. He went through over a year of treatments for cancer…so all of those thoughts I used to have in my head about what it would be like to look back and remember with him the times of his childhood when he grows up all became a hope because I had no idea if those days would ever come. He is only 4 now and we enjoy every moment of every day, tantrum or not. The relapse rate is high, he has full body scans every 3 months and blood draws every month. I truly don’t mind if he throws a tantrum every now and then because he has gone through hell, no matter how stressed out I am feeling inside because of everything cancer has taken away from us, the strained relationships, the bills, etc. We as parents do all know it goes by so fast, but some of us parents also are VERY aware that it can be taken away at any given moment…and have constant reminders of that. Every time I see his scars from his surgeries, every time I see pictures of him when he was bald, all of his leftover medical supplies that he uses to play doctor and “fix” his stuffed animals, every time he complains that something hurts, etc…constant reminders to truly take in every moment and to enjoy every moment.
True, all. It’s hard. And when they’re grown, unfortunately, you don’t forget all the struggles – just some of them – if your child has any emotional issues; doesn’t have many friends in their life; you get told by even Sunday School teachers that your child is the worst (and believe me, I was the kind of Mom who always believed what they told me, because when I was growing up, that’s the way it was). He wasn’t. I just wish I could erase all of that. I now have two beautiful grown men; one is gay and the other straight. I love them for their own selves. That they have gotten this old with me as a parent, is a miracle! Yes. Enjoy.
My instinctive response to this post was to respond, “Yes, yes – it goes by way too fast” but if I stop and think (which I’m trying to do these days), I do know what you mean. Being a Mom is hard work and it is hard to “enjoy” them as much as people tell us to. When my youngest was born – I spent the first year of his life in misery because I had undiagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis and honestly, I was miserable physically and mentally, and I can’t remember much except that, sadly. He’s sixteen now and definitely was NOT negatively affected by that year. I think you have to try and look at childhood not day by day, definitely not minute by minute, but as a whole and by writing what you are writing and expressing your honest feelings, I believe you are being an awesome Mom! I am also a grandmother now and I will think twice when I see a young mother struggling with young children about what I say!
Spot on! Mine are 12 & 9 now. So different, and easier. The other day I saw a woman at the grocery store with her tantruming 3 yo and I had mine (rare, I usually shop alone, they are still a pain in the ass shopping). She had that look, that I’d rather be getting a root canal look. She also seemed embarrassed because mine were behaving. Of course, they’re older! I smiled and said “Been there, babe.” She looked so relieved and said “tell me it gets better.” “I promise it does.” Oh, thank you so much.” That’s how we can support each other out there as women and mothers and humans. Just a little support during the hard times. No judgement. Life is good, but it’s hard sometimes. Great post!
OMG! I absolutely adore your posts, whether it be a blog or a parody! They all ring sotrue! I have twoyoung boys and can completely relate to each thing! Your blog is now my new BFF. Thank you so much for keeping it real! Makes me feel like I’m not the only one who thinks of her kids as raving lunatics that should be in a padded room. Not always, but well, you know. You’re awesome!
It is so nice to see this. I know this post is probably super old, however I wanted to comment anyway. I am a young mother, 24 years old. I gave birth to my only child, a boy, March 3rd of last year and a couple years later I had a mysterious illness to figure out. Lots of testing later, it was said to be benign and slow growing. When they opened me up, it almost doubled in size (it was huge). Then I was diagnosed with cancer. It hurts so much to have to go through all of this right now. I keep missing milestones. It sucks. There’s so much more but I’m trying to keep this as short as possible. I’m not guaranteed tomorrow, or another month, a year. We are still trying to beat it. I’m so scared of death and that I may not get to be there as he grows. Helping him. Being proud of him. I hate it. So saying to cherish every moment, they won’t last long really makes me mad. I spend as much time as him. I need to rest. Restart. I extend my arms to anyone and everyone that needs one or two hugs. May this year be fantastic and full of crafts and fun, to have motivation for whatever you need, and that good health is on your side. (Kind of like Nationwide!)
When the kiddos get you stressed, just close your eyes and say “Jesus, help me see them through your eyes. Open your eyes, nothing happens. Do it again, nothing happens. The third time is a charm. You open your eyes, your entire body fills calm, you are filled with love and joy that these two little miracles belong to you because you were chosen from Heaven above to be their mother…you’ll feel so much better than stressing. God bless you and your children, and yes it goes fast, but guess what, so does everything else in your life! LOL Enjoy. You have nothing better to do on the planet than to make money, enjoy your life and usher in the Kingdom of Heaven at every opportunity. 🙂
Oh my gosh I love you LOL! I just came across your blog from what a relative posted on FB. Your writing is wonderful, and while I do not have kids and am now too oldI enjoy your blog immensely. Keep enjoying life!
Hi Ana!! Thank you for the kind comment. I’m so happy to have you here! I talk about other things besides parenting so hopefully you’ll enjoy!
I just came across your blog and I have to say I wish you were around when I was raising my three adult kids! Your views are so totally on point even from 20 some years ago when my kids were your kids ages. Thanks for this blog, because I have to say, I might have been the woman in the parking lot. I remember people saying the same to me and as I cleaned the throw up it of the back seat thinking they were nuts. How I wish I was cleaning that puke now! LOL! I’m so proud of my kids and what they have become, but I do miss the days of the sticky hugs and kisses. It’s a different kind of hug now, they have become my friends, but I will always be their momma. I promise next time that I see a mom with young kids to smile and have my memories and realize that mom knows to enjoy each moment and is in process of creating her own wonderful memories for herself and her children. Thank you again for being such a wonderful mom and voice.
Thank you. i needed to read that today!
For the record … We guys tend not to be ultra – intuitive … something you ladies may or may not already have already figured out. (I’m guessing you have figured it out because you tend to be quite the opposite). I know this is a humourous post … but seriously if you have access to one of us … before you reach the end of your tether … If you feel you need us to do more … Please verbalise it. It’s just that sometimes you ladies are so good at keeping your composure … We just don’t notice (until the tears come and its too late).
My father tells me to “enjoy every moment” so often! I just want to scream. YOU DON’T GET IT DAD! I’m trying to enjoy the moment but a moment to myself would be NICE too. I love this 3 little boys but BOY I’m glad I’m not the only one that feels this way!
it’s ok to be as stressed as you say you are, but it’s NOT ok to put it in writing so that folks can think it’s normal to think of kids as “life suckers” AKA parasites. Kids are SUPPOSED to have difficult days. Parents are supposed to be able to deal with these days. If not, they are SUPPOSED to seek help. I hope you do. There are support groups, medications, and even programs for people who are so unable to cope that they turn to verbally abusing their kids on blogs (better than to their faces at least) and making light of comments about strangling people in parking lots.
Finally, a prayer. I pray that your kids never find this blog and read the things you’ve called them and written about them.
Good luck QUICKLY finding the help you seem to need.
I pray that you’re able to get the help you need at removing the stick out of your judgmental ass.
Yes, it’s true. It is hard and it also goes by in a blink. So, be kind to the well meaning older mom that has been where you are. She may be walking a road that you would never wish to take one step on. She may be a mom that just buried her son. She would give anything for one second, even a difficult one, to live over again. #LiveLikeBrian brianadams.us
First let me say I understand and agree whole heartedly with this post. Mom’s of young children have it hard enough without u old-timer pointing out that they aren’t appreciating there screaming, snotty exhausted child/Ren enough. Wow, isn’t obvious that mom is having a rough moment? Way to load guilt on top of stress, every young mother needs that.
With that being said, I feel something more needs to be pointed out.
I guess I’m missing something. My children are 31, 27, and 26. I don’t regret their growing up in the least. That is a child’s purpose. I cherish the good memories but love every new memory made with my amazing daughters and their SO’S and children.
I struggle to comprehend yearning for the past when today is so amazing. I guess I’m just closer to my kids than most?
Stop worrying about tomorrow, live in the now! Each day brings new challenges and new rewards. Embrace that and stop worrying about what you may regret one day. You will have fewer regrets all around.
I haven’t read all the comments yet, but has anyone stopped to think the old lady might be onto something? I’m thinking that the conclusion here is that she’s old, she’s forgotten how hard it was, blah, blah, blah – oh and remember she didn’t have a dishwasher or her own car very likely to “karate chop” her kids into.
She is telling you to relish THE HARD TIMES you dim witted flute. The hard times are better than not having them and that when you’re old you would trade 5 years for a day with your screaming, pant shitting toddler.
Yes to all of this! Especially watching them sleep… my heart fills with so much love, hope, & regret that we didn’t enjoy more of the day because she is growing too fast. Then I remember how she is constantly (lately) telling me she loves me soooo much and needs another hug and kiss. I must be doing something right! The days are long, but the years are short.
Love this. Thankyou 🙂
I just had an epic battle with my 3 year old son over a toy truck, was feeling like I just can’t handle this today….then stumbled across this article and now I’m ugly crying all over my computer. It’s such a strange dynamic, this Mom thing, wanting these years to fly by so life will get a bit less chaotic…but also desperately holding on with both hands, knowing that these days of sticky peanut butter kisses and bedtime snuggles are fleeting. You hit the nail directly on the head with this article. Thank you.