You Don't Get Today Back

As parents, we sometimes forget our child is growing.  I realize that sounds idiotic.  Duh, of course they’re growing.  However, I know I’m not the only parent in the world to look at their child (who we see every single day) and suddenly think “holy crap, you are SO big!”, "when the hell did that happen?!". 

They happen all the time, these reality moments.  We then get caught between conflicting emotions of unprecedented pride, fighting with utter denial that our child is not the tiny, innocent, completely-dependent infant we brought home from the hospital.  It happens slowly, yet so fast it feels like whiplash…..it’s a parental phenomenon.

These moments can be brought on by a number of things: they accomplish something new; the first time they fit into an outfit that looked ginormous the day we bought it, or when they outgrow another; a new word; a new laugh; even seeing a picture taken several months ago.  The point is, it happens all the time.  And we are so busy with our day to day activities, duties, and just-get-through-the-day mindset that we forget they are constantly changing. 

We forget that we don’t get today back.  That might not seem that significant….it’s just one day right?  There’s always tomorrow.  What difference does one day make?  ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD!   

Admittedly, there are days I’m so tired, I can barely think straight and I just want to shut down for a bit.  Or I have a ridiculous laundry list (including laundry!) of things that need to get done.  But that’s just the point!  There’s always something– it’s called LIFE!  And it never slows down.  There’s always something else that needs doing, cleaning, or fixing.  I will probably be tired for another 18 years, so buck up!

When Baby Girl wants to be held; whether she’s tired, happy, frustrated, overwhelmed, nervous, shy, excited, or sad….hold her.  HOLD HER.  Hold her every single second you can.  Because very soon, much sooner than I want to admit, she won’t want me to hold her.  She doesn’t want me to hold her enough now!  Like many parents, I’m so guilty of getting caught up in a task or in my exhaustion that I miss an opportunity to pick her up when those tiny arms reach up to me.  The moments to hold her are now on her authority, not mine.  I don’t miss one often, but a missed moment is a missed moment and soon they’ll end. 

So enjoy the moment.  The list can wait. Pick her up again, rock her one more minute, play another game, read one more story, kiss her once more, hold her just a bit longer.

Remember, you don’t get today back.