My Children are Only Little Once

This morning was the first time in a long time when I actually woke up before my son did. He usually is our whole family's alarm clock. Waking us up around 5am everyday. So, when I woke up to no Liam yelling "Mum" into the baby monitor, I went to check on him.

 

I looked into his room and there he was still sound asleep. So, I sneaked over to his crib, careful not to wake him, and snapped this beautiful photo of our baby boy.

 

I literally sat there for 15 minutes on the floor next to his crib just watching him breathe and sleep. It's moments like this that remind me how precious life is.

 

This little boy sleeping like an angel with not a single worry in his head. Even though the world around him is chaotic, busy, and sometimes scary, here he is in all his innocence and vulnerability, with such a gentle peace around him.

 

It made me reflect and remember to slow down.

 

 My life is a constant go, go, go. I work full-time, I go to school. I'm a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend. And recently I have started this blog and am now my daughter's Girl Scout troop leader. With all the action around me, I sometimes forget to savor everyday moments with my kids. Getting them dressed, eating meals with them, taking them to school, the library, and the park, and even just talking with them or watching them play are moments that I need to soak in and appreciate.

 

 

But every time I forget, my children have a way of always reminding me to cherish every moment. I make sure to appreciate every hug, kiss, snuggle, laugh, cry, and smile because one day those little faces that look up at me every day will be grown men and women. They will no longer want to play tea party and build forts. They will no longer sing nursery rhymes with me. They will no longer need me to push them on the swing. They will no longer rush to the door every time I come home. They will no longer need my kiss on their boo-boos. They will no longer need to hold my hand as they cross the street. They will no longer need to be read a bedtime story or for me to tuck them in at night.

 

As I am writing this my heart is breaking because I realize that I take these moments for granted. These moments that seem so simple and routine are ultimately the big things that I know I will miss once it's gone. I need to remember to just take time and see the beauty in the little things.

 

 

Seeing my children just be children is something that I value so dearly, but I know I am guilty of putting pressure on my 6-year-old daughter especially to do well in school and to learn responsibility. I need to learn to let go sometimes and just let her be a kid. I want my children to enjoy their childhood and be children for as long as they can. I don't want them to grow up too quickly. I want them to be my babies forever. But I know one day they will be grown men and women and my only hope as a parent is for them to grow up and have wonderful memories of their childhood. The innocence of childhood is something that is so important to retain and can never be given back.

 

I know that I'm not perfect. I do sometimes lose my patience with my children and wish that they would "grow up" already, but I need to remember that they are only little once. Even though my life does get overwhelming and I do sometimes focus my attention on other things, being with my children as they learn new things, discover new things, and experience new things is truly a blessing and I need to appreciate it as such!

 

One of my favorite quotes is "Collect moments, not things" and I need to make sure that every moment I spend with my children is always stored close to my heart. <3