A Lesson in Time

With every passing minute, hour, and day, the magnitude of how deeply I cherish these little moments with my tiny humans continues to grow more than I ever thought was humanly possible.

They say it goes fast, but no one truly prepares you for just how quickly it all seems to pass by. And honestly, the sooner you realize how fleeting time really is, the sooner you stop sweating the small stuff.

Over the past few years, my perspective on motherhood has shifted so much. I stress less about the messes, how tidy and organized the house is, whether the laundry is caught up, what’s for dinner, bringing Pinterest-worthy ideas to life, or trying to keep up with society’s expectations of motherhood.

There was a time when I believed dropping the ball on any of those things meant I was failing as a mother. But now I see it differently. I simply have my priorities in the right order for the best interest of my family.

I care far more about the experiences we are sharing and the memories we are creating together. I want to build a childhood my children can someday look back on with warmth and gratitude — one where they always knew just how deeply loved they were.

Because the little feet that once pitter-pattered down the hallway in the wee hours of the morning to wake me will someday be gone far too soon.

The lap that is currently overflowing with books, toys, sleepy snuggles, and laughter will one day sit quiet and empty.

The constant demands of dressing tiny bodies, brushing teeth, zipping coats, packing snacks, and tying shoes will slowly fade until they are no more.

And as their independence grows, it will forever be bittersweet.

There will be overwhelming gratitude watching them grow, learn, and reach new milestones… while also grieving the quiet realization that another chapter has closed and they no longer need me in the same ways they once did.

I read something recently that said to cherish every moment, no matter how small, because you never truly know when it will be the last.

The last bottle.

The last diaper change.

The last time tying their shoes or zipping their coat.

The last bedtime song.

The last time they crawl into your bed in the middle of the night.

The last game.

The last dance recital.

The last day of school.

If anything, raising children teaches us to savor every moment because before we know it, the “firsts” we were once so eager and excited for quietly become some of the hardest lasts.

In what feels like the blink of an eye, childhood turns into adolescence, and adolescence into adulthood. And all we are left with are the memories of a season that was unbelievably beautiful, sacred, exhausting, ordinary, and precious all at once.

What a shame it would be to wish it away or rush through it without fully immersing ourselves in the beauty and blessing of it all.