I came across these photos of Gemma from last summer and my heart melted. My baby is going to turn 4 in a few weeks….FOUR. How could this have happened? Wasn’t I just pregnant a second ago? Whenever I think of my kids getting older, I always get the cliched feelings of nostalgia and regret. “Why don’t I spend more time just talking to them?” “Remember when they were born? – so tiny!” “They will be gone before we know it.” Pictures of high school graduations and sending them off to college flutter through my head, and I tell myself that everything will turn out fine….but how do I really know?
Having small children at home is a special time (cheesy-sounding, but true). I know that there will come a day when Gemma doesn’t run to me with arms open wide and give me the tightest hug that her strength allows. I know that Guini will not always want to snuggle close to me while watching Tangled, and smile up at me with freckled cheeks. I know that one day Gavin won’t ask me to chaperone his class field trip to the local berry farm, and beam with pride when I visit his class at school.
Now is the time to be close to my children. Now is the time to hug them tightly and choose my words carefully. Now is the time to sit on the floor and play Uno with them (even when it is slow and played incorrectly). Now is the time to spend less time gazing into my laptop, and spend more time gazing into their sweet faces.
Reminder to myself – don’t wait for tomorrow.
Love,
Stephanie May*
Chyrl Kelley
May 5, 2011 -
Now JUST do exactly that. Valerie was more independent but she still liked me doing the school thing in elementary. Tristan and I spent the days when she was in school doing his favorite thing – eating ice cream. He even tolerated long shopping trips, if there was ice cream at the end of them!
Pearl
May 5, 2011 -
So true, but…there is only a short period of time when it all seems lost, gone. Those teen years of independents. But they always come back to you. I get the BEST hugs from my kids now that they’re grown. I just don’t like to let go, were they not just babes in my arms. ;)
j
May 5, 2011 -
I thought your kids “would last longer” for me. But if possible, it is going way faster.
I was in the Target snack bar with Hunter and Gavin last night when a young couple walked out the doors. The husband was holding a baby, about 18 months and the mom was very pregnant and I was pierced with the strongest Kokomo memories of May and your dad and I. I was suddenly pregnant with you (or Tredessa), eating the unchanged in 30 years recipe of Target nachos, the light, the sweet memories, the sheer joy of those early days, the tastes, the sounds of a bustling retail establishment.
It is gone in a flash.
It isn’t too late for you, though.
Jenny Freyta
May 5, 2011 -
Oh my gosh, Steph- you brought tears to my eyes! I’ve been having the same feelings lately. I feel like now it’s so much harder for me to really intentionally get time with both kiddos. It’s hard with a newborn to feel like I still have time with Elodie, and the time just goes way too fast. Thank you for the reminder, I know you were giving it to yourself, but it’s a good one for me to remember too. :)
Melissa @ Bubby & Bean
May 5, 2011 -
This is the sweetest post, and she is just lovely.
xo,
melissa
allison
May 5, 2011 -
Very well said!!!!!
Stef Phipps
May 5, 2011 -
Blubbering baby, right here….
Stephanie
May 5, 2011 -
Thanks so much friends! Believe me, I was a BIG crybaby last night as I wrote this. I almost didn’t post it because it felt too mushy, but I really appreciate all of your feedback:) Glad to know that I’m not alone in these feelings.