This Is It

Earlier today, Matt commented to me that our kids are growing up too fast, and that he wishes we could freeze time right now. I have been thinking the same thing lately, watching in awe (as most parents do, I'm sure) about how quickly time seems to go, how fast my kids are growing up. It seems that time perpetually goes faster and faster, and that each year is shorter than the last. 

This is a precious time in our life, Matt and I.  I have felt that strongly lately, and I am constantly reminded of this when I get comments at almost every place I go about how busy I must be, how young they still are, etc.  But all that says to me, is that I am in the best time of my life. That when I grow old and look back with fond memories, this will be what I look back on with most fondness.  Our family is complete, and we are almost completely out of the baby stage. Our oldest is grown and independent, but not too independent, quite yet. We do almost everything together as a family, including grocery shopping and errand running. And what's funny, is our kids actually enjoy it! They still like spending time with us, and as a family we have a great time.

I love the age of learning new things, which seem to be more abundant at the younger age. I have one learning to talk, one learning to read and write, one learning about space and the earth, and another learning about division and leadership. And they look to us to teach them, to guide them, to help them.  And I love the one-on-one time I get with the younger two. I wish I had enjoyed it more when my older two were home still, but I am thankful that we did so much fun stuff, still. 

 This is the time where play and imagination are most at work. Sure, we have to curb the screen time, but they run and play, build and swing, don't complain about how cold or hot it is, and love when I, their mother, take them fun and new places! I know that won't last forever. 

And this is the time when innocence abounds. When they are not bound by personal limitations, like adults can be. When they live freely, think positively, and see the good for what it is. Their baggage has not yet been picked up, and they live without that weighing them down.  I am grateful that we have been able to have a life where my kids have had that. I'm not perfect, so I'm sure one day they'll be in therapy lamenting about the wrongs I did. :) But I also love that at this age, I still have the chance to make it right, to do better, and to change habits. 

This is truly It. This is the time I want to remember. This is the time I want to live so that my kids look back and love it too. I want them to love their childhood, to grow without restrictions and limitations. I want them to learn to be happy and positive now, so that it's instilled in them for life. I hope that they childhood innocence and laughter they have now is something they'll always keep with them. 

So yes, I'm not perfect.  And, I do look forward with great anticipation at what the future holds, and at what my four children will learn and become as they grow. But for now, I want to live in the present, to soak this up and tattoo this part in our lives on my memory. I want to know that I lived this to the fullest. I want to know that I'll look back and miss it, because of the fond memories I have of now. If I've learned anything about being a mom, is that once a stage is over, it's over. They learn and grow, and each minute is a new one, and each one passed is one I'll never get back. 

So on that note, I'm off to make some memories.