Passing Time

As the time passes ever so quickly, it's the little things that I want to hold on to ... For my son, I want to remember his laugh ... his gut-wrenching, can't-breathe, eyes-shut, gasping-for-air, one-of-a-kind, genuine belly laugh! He's had it all his life, even as a tiny baby, and when it makes an appearance, I just know he is enjoying life to the fullest. I also fully enjoy his thirst for knowledge. He is constantly on the hunt for new information and fun facts! I may not be able to buy him everything he wants (he has expensive taste!), but he is learning that what matters most in life is never material things. He is learning to look beyond himself. For my daughter, it's her sincere, kind heart. She loves others always more than herself. She cries when she accidentally hurts others. She will share every time. She is in tune with others' feelings, to a fault at times. She lives to make others laugh and have fun! She is sincerely the sweetest person I know! She is teaching me to slow down and to be in the moment as much as possible. Her joy when learning something new is refreshing. She is very perceptive! She is quick to tell me when I'm distracted if she's talking to me, but just as quick to tell me she loves playing games with me! Life truly goes by so quickly. They say the little things become the big things when it comes down to it. That couldn't be more true for parenthood. On a daily basis, I am innately aware of the passing time. If I'm blessed to see the day, in 8 years my son will likely be planning to move away, taking with him that laughter that will echo in my heart forever. In that same time, my daughter will be a teenager, possibly leaving behind that sweet, innocent, kind, playful girl that lives with me now. In just eight short years, my life will not be as chaotic, noisy, messy or restrictive. Instead it will be boring, chillingly quiet, and bare. I would like to think that my kids will still be close to me, but who knows. I'm sure I'll have friends and hobbies to keep me busy, but those things can never replace the family time I enjoy today. So now you know why I haven't blogged or why I don't spend as much time with others. While people around me may think I'm too busy for anyone else or too shy to spend time with group outings, I'm quietly spending time with my kids so that they grow up with fond memories of their mom being around, and so that I can mentally record as much of their beautiful childhood moments. Because I have an innate awareness of the passing time, I soak in every second I can with my kids. I seal in the sound of their laughter, the weight of their tears, the smells of their favorite meals, the beats of their music as they practice their lessons, their favorite books, their excitement to tell me about any little thing ... it's all passing too quickly.