I chatted with a fellow teacher the other day at school that gave me some wise words. Words I’ve heard before but really didn’t sink in until later. We hadn’t seen each other in awhile so we were catching up on my kids and husbands newish job (we used to teach at the same school, but we don’t anymore). Maybe she heard the stress in my voice when I was talking about my Coach husband and that he’s never home. Or just how I’m juggling work and a 7 year old and an almost 2 year old. I don’t feel like I was unloading on her at all but she could feel my pain. She could connect with me being a teacher and parent. She too, worked as a teacher and raised kids. She remembered how tough life can be sometimes. As we parted in the hall she said “Remember, this is all temporary…”. “Yes!” I said back not really thinking about it, but just giving the standard answer. It was later on and the days that followed that I really was letting those powerful words sink in.
Where I am right now with my life, it’s just temporary. I’m knee deep in dirty boy diapers, 1st grade homework, chasing a very active boy, teaching, and trying to find time for myself all in 24 hours a day. As I started thinking about it, and even now, tears come to my eyes. This life I have? It’s not something to take for granted. Yes, I step on cars all over my house, I have dirty dishes in my sink, I have a pile of laundry that is probably taller than my 7 year old. But it won’t be like that forever.
I have to read the same books over and over to my sweet boy because they are his favorite and it’s what makes him happy to go to bed. The same books that I can read verbatim and I try to read them with expression and happiness even though I am so sick of these dang books! Pretty soon they won’t be his favorite. He will have moved on and not even want bedtime books anymore.
Right now I have Mommy Guilt wondering if I’ve made the healthiest food choices for my kids that day. I wonder if my little boy’s ear infection is cleared up. I worry if the dreaded stomach flu that’s traveling around my daughter’s school will hit our house. I wash and rewash soccer socks every week so my daughter is ready for her practice and games. We have Barbie crap (and I do mean CRAP) all over the house. Teeny shoes and clothes all over. But someday we won’t.
I worry if I spent enough quality time with each of my kids today? Did I tell them I love them enough and give enough kisses and hugs? Do they know how much they mean to me?
Is my daughter keeping up at school? Is she going to be ready for the (gulp) 2nd grade? Is my little boy’s speech ever going to get better? Is he going to eventually talk in sentences and not cry so much in frustration because I don’t know what he needs?
Life right now is just temporary. It won’t always be like this. I don’t know what the future will be like for us. But I do know I will look back and miss these days. It’s hard to imagine now in between all the Mommy chores and screaming of an almost 2 year old, but I will miss it. Life is precious. Life is short. Enjoy each day.
XO XO
Crystal Green says
Ironically enough, this has been on my mind a lot lately too. I have a three year old that is quite fussy and demanding of my time, a seven year old who is fighting his jealousy feelings, and an eleven year old who is at that odd stage of wanting to rebel and wanting to treated like a little kid at the same time. Plus I have my own desires pulling me. I also have a husband who has been needy lately too.
I agree is is life and it's all temporary! That is such great advice and well worth remembering. It's soooo hard though when we're knee deep in living that life. This is such a great post and reminder. I love the pictures too.
The Plagued Parent says
Temporary is fleeting in nature, as you know. As a Mom of older kids I sometimes long for those temporary struggles that have gone by. Enjoy!
Jolleen Ruiz says
I LOVE this post! It hits home for me because I have a 7 year old, a 4 year old, and a 7 month old. It won't last forever. Thanks for reminding me to treasure this time 🙂
Erin @ Nourishing My Scholar says
I Love this! I also have a 7 year old and a 2 year old. It can be tough. But Just as you said, its temporary and it will not last. We will never get this day with our children again. Tomorrow they will be a little bit older 🙂
deadpandiaries.com says
I saw your post on my blog earlier and I though I'd check yours out:) Working with kids is hard, but it sounds like you're striking a good balance:)
Heather says
Enjoy the moments 🙂 Being a mom is hard but also rewarding. 🙂 Amazing how friends can give us the right words at the right time..
The Screenwriter's Wife says
Aww, it's so true. I have a 3yr old and a 10 month old, and up until last week was working full time from home at an online school. It is so hard trying to find that balance between work and home; knowing that the present chaos is just temporary is both relieving and saddening. There was a great blog post by someone that may its' way through the blog world last summer called "Are you Lonely Mama?" or something like that talking about this exact same thing.
Cross Seven says
I agree with you! It is so good to take a step back and realize how quickly time flies! It helps prioritize what is important and what isn't. I think it's a great sign that you are a good mom because you are so in tune with how short the stages of our kids' lives are.
Hiking the NW says
So true!! These moments are just temporary and while they may seem hard, will truly be the most rewarding times in life. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Keelie Reason says
There will be days that you love and days that you wish you could go without. Yes, it is all temporary. I try to remember that in the midst of the struggling days, there are also a lot of joyful moments that will also pass. I think about how all of my children live with me. I only get a few years where we will all be together as a family, before they grow up and move out.
Crafty Staci says
I used to have the same struggles and concerns when my kids were small. But now they've grown into two amazing adults who actually want to spend time with us, so I think we did alright. 😉 Hang in there – you're making beautiful memories for later right now!
Cami Hall says
OH this is so true!!!! Thanks for this reminder. I needed this today. Soon we will miss even the things that drove us crazy!
Val @ Love My DIY Home says
As a mother of 15 kids, 13 of whom were special needs adopted, I give this advice to other moms out of experience: This too shall pass, and don't be too hard on yourself. Be faithful, honest and available. Put God in your family. Hang on and forge ahead. If you do your best, who can ask more of you?
Jennifer Small says
Love this. Having small kids is CRAZY a lot of the time. But I do hear from everyone that we will miss these times (even if we don't think that in the moment.) Thanks for the reminder. 🙂
Michelle Cruz says
What a great read. I love this!
Jaime says
So true. What a great post.
Angela McKinney says
I love this! I have a neighbor who recently moved in and stopped me to tell me to cherish these days. It was so sweet and out of the blue. It is true we are in a temporary stage and it will pass but we will miss it when it is gone.
Michelle H says
The picture with his head in his hands is adorable! I know the days are temporary, but I'm with you. It's easy to get bogged down in the mire. Already, though, my 7-yr-old isn't liking hugs much and it's making me really sad that I've missed a lot of opportunities.
Jennifer Corter says
This is such a powerful post! It's so true! It's all temporary. I've gotta go hug my little boy now!
Cristin Frank says
Your post brought tears to my eyes. My boys are in 4th and 6th grade and I have moments when I look back and know those days of wanting to be a farmer and cute mispronunciations are gone. Then I remember there is so much to look forward to.
Deb Wolf says
So much truth here! Our kiddos are grown. Don't be too hard on yourself mom. You're doing a great job. You're all in. You love them. That's what matters. The rest will work itself out. I'm visiting from the Commentathon and I've bee so blessed by your words.
Bonnie Way says
It's always good to have reminders like this. Made me remember when our daughter's favourite book was Bear Snores On and we both had it memorized… and now I haven't seen it in a couple of years. 🙂 It's good to keep our life in perspective, to be able to look ahead and back and to see that this is both a passing moment and yet an important moment to spend with them. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
witandtravesty says
I feel like I might not have too much to say since I'm married but I don't have kids yet. I guess what I can say is that I can remember the day that my mom told me that she thought she wasn't a good mom to us kids. As a high school senior I couldn't believe it, and it made me really sad. She was so hard on herself but I couldn't imagine being anyone else's daughter. I think after worrying about how much you're doing for your kids, they will always know that you love them. At least, they'll be grateful for you once they call you for parenting advice!
Dancinmoma says
Yes! It is temporary. When they get older, you'll actually miss some if the day to day chaos!! It all goes waaaay too fast! 🙂
Barbara James says
They grow up way too fast. Enjoy them now.
Felecia Efriann says
So true life is precious and short, enjoy each day of it. There are so many things that can be worried about, and questions to be ask about is what I am doing today enough. So nice to remember to enjoy today. Enjoy the day God has made, enjoy your children who are a blessing from the Lord because they honestly grow up fast, like you said sooner then you know they will have new favorite things. The time we have is precious and we don't know how much of it we have, so enjoying today is so important. 🙂
Art From My Table says
AMEN! I can so relate! I have 4 ranging from age 10-3. And the days are sometimes just a blur. But my friends with teenagers say "Give me 6 in diapers any day" LOL. I love your message here, life is precious! Thanks for such a relatable and inspiring post. 🙂
Ashley Tannock says
So true. My youngest just turned 7 and I can't believe how fast time has gone by. you have to enjoy the little things. Great post.
Shelle says
You are doing great! Some day they will be graduating from college (like my youngest) and you will wonder where the time went. Cherish each day.
NovemberSunflower AND StaciandherScorpios says
I always make a commitment to myself while the kids are school: I will not lose my sh*t when we are doing homework, because it's all temporary and I should be thankful I have two healthy kids who are doing homework.
Then they come home, and wouldn't you know it, my temper flares and we're right back to the mom guilt.
I know I'm not alone!! But man, I wish I could get a handle on it. I guess it's just a matter of stepping away, reminding myself it's all temporary, and going back in?
Susie Fruitcake says
Life is indeed short and precious. And the years will fly by. Enjoy those moments while you can.
Cristina T says
Oh! There's this post that you must read. I read it this weekend! Just what you need to read as far as Mommy guilt goes. You're right though, this is not the forever freeze frame of your life, it will grow and change, pause and then start up again. Grace Mommy, lots of grace. Here's that post! http://t.co/w9r8KKl0r3 🙂
Phyllis Sather says
Seems like wondering if we've done enough is a mommy thing. I'm grateful to be an at home mom and I was able to homeschool our last three children and I still wonder if I've done enough – enough of the right things anyway.
Trena Quesenberry says
Everyone always tells you to enjoy it because they will grow up so fast, but when you're right in the middle of it on the front lines, it doesn't feel like it's going by quickly. I certainly don't want to wish time away, but sometimes I find myself looking forward to the day when my kids are a little bit older, and we're able to do more, and then I feel bad too because I want them to stay babies forever!
Kelly Johnson says
Beautiful! I think this is something every mom goes through and sometimes we all need to be reminded that it is TEMPORARY. Thank you for that reminder.
Maketta says
Time is really flying fast! Thanks for sharing this with us!
Elizabeth Ann Duke says
This is something that I have to tell myself every single day. I'm a very busy person right now. I'm currently working an 8 hour per day job and raising two kids (3 if you count my husband and 5 if you include the dogs). On top of this I am also selling artwork to a gallery here in my home state and working 20 to 30 hours per week at my internship for my master's degree, which I will have completed in three weeks. The stress of juggling all of this is absolutely mindblowing sometimes, but I do keep telling myself that this is just temporary. When the internship is over things are going to go back to the way they used to be and I'm really looking forward to it. Reminding myself that this is only temporary is one of the only things keeping me sane right now. Thank you for sharing this.
MomHomeGuide.com says
Don't worry — I am sure you are a good mom! It sounds like you love your children dearly and care for them, so I am sure you have everything under control! My kids are tweens now, and life is so much easier when they were tots. (They are twins, so we had double the diapers, etc.) I sometimes miss the days when they were tots, though! I am sure you will look back on these days fondly one day!
Alice Sibley says
Great post and thank you for the reminder to take pleasure in the little things and live in the moment. Today's frustrations are tomorrow's wistful memories sometimes.
Alice Sibley says
Great post and thank you for the reminder to take pleasure in the little things and live in the moment. Today's frustrations are tomorrow's wistful memories sometimes.
Melissa Vera says
All three of my girls are teenagers and I miss those days when they were smaller. Enjoy it while you can because they grow up way to fast.