Parenting
When you first have children they talk about the challenges of parenting. The struggles of a baby waking in the night, the toddler who doesn't want to stay in their bed, the cost of childcare-or the constant struggle of finding the right childcare. Injuries from sports...
Having to take off work to pick them up from school when they don't feel well. Helping them with homework. A messy house, the never ending laundry and the smell of their rooms. Oh the smell.
The cost of school supplies, clothes and lunches.
You anticipate their eyes and smiles come Christmas morning, only sometimes to be let down in disappointment because you couldn't afford exactly what they asked Santa for. But their eyes- nonetheless sparkle because deep inside, you tried. Those are magical moments.
You coach them in sports. Rushing to practices and ballgames, times 4. You tote them all over to let them play the dream. The game they love. No matter the expense or how exhausting it becomes.
Life is just so busy that you rarely even stop to think what the end of those days looks like. Actually, it's not even something you see in sight, until it is already happening. You go into it thinking, 18-19 years sounds like forever away. You have plenty of time.
Then, very suddenly hours turn into days. Days into months and months into years.
That little human that used to crawl up next to you in bed and cuddle up to watch Saturday morning cartoons is this young adult who hugs you in the hallway on his way out the door.
The chaos and laughter that used to echo throughout your home gets filled with silence and solitude.
You've learned how to parent a child who needs you to care for and protect them but have no idea how the whole 'letting go' thing is supposed to work.
So you hold on as tight as you can. Wondering how time passed by so quickly. Feeling guilty that you might have missed something. Because even though you had 18-19 years, it just somehow doesn't seem like enough. You ask yourself;
Did I teach them the right lessons?
Did I read them enough books?
Did I spend enough time with them?
Did I really make as many school parties as I could have?
Do they really know how much I love them?
What could I have done to be a better parent?
Then, when it's time for them to go, it all hits. Like a crashing wave you can't catch your breathe from. And all you can do is hope, pray and trust that God will protect them as they start to make their way into the world.
Parenting by far is the most amazing experience of your life. It will leave you exhilarated, exhausted and heartbroken all in one swoop.
But one thing is for sure. It's never enough time.
For all of you parents with young ones, who's days are spent trying to figure out how to make it through the madness, exhausted day in and day out...
Soak. Every. Bit. Of. It. Up.
Because one day, all those crazy days of laughter, cartoons, sleep overs, Christmas morning magic, ballgames, practices and late night dinners-all comes to an end.
And you're left hoping that you did enough right so that when the time comes, and it will... they'll fly.
xo,
Misty
Having to take off work to pick them up from school when they don't feel well. Helping them with homework. A messy house, the never ending laundry and the smell of their rooms. Oh the smell.
The cost of school supplies, clothes and lunches.
You anticipate their eyes and smiles come Christmas morning, only sometimes to be let down in disappointment because you couldn't afford exactly what they asked Santa for. But their eyes- nonetheless sparkle because deep inside, you tried. Those are magical moments.
You coach them in sports. Rushing to practices and ballgames, times 4. You tote them all over to let them play the dream. The game they love. No matter the expense or how exhausting it becomes.
Life is just so busy that you rarely even stop to think what the end of those days looks like. Actually, it's not even something you see in sight, until it is already happening. You go into it thinking, 18-19 years sounds like forever away. You have plenty of time.
Then, very suddenly hours turn into days. Days into months and months into years.
That little human that used to crawl up next to you in bed and cuddle up to watch Saturday morning cartoons is this young adult who hugs you in the hallway on his way out the door.
The chaos and laughter that used to echo throughout your home gets filled with silence and solitude.
You've learned how to parent a child who needs you to care for and protect them but have no idea how the whole 'letting go' thing is supposed to work.
So you hold on as tight as you can. Wondering how time passed by so quickly. Feeling guilty that you might have missed something. Because even though you had 18-19 years, it just somehow doesn't seem like enough. You ask yourself;
Did I teach them the right lessons?
Did I read them enough books?
Did I spend enough time with them?
Did I really make as many school parties as I could have?
Do they really know how much I love them?
What could I have done to be a better parent?
Then, when it's time for them to go, it all hits. Like a crashing wave you can't catch your breathe from. And all you can do is hope, pray and trust that God will protect them as they start to make their way into the world.
Parenting by far is the most amazing experience of your life. It will leave you exhilarated, exhausted and heartbroken all in one swoop.
But one thing is for sure. It's never enough time.
For all of you parents with young ones, who's days are spent trying to figure out how to make it through the madness, exhausted day in and day out...
Soak. Every. Bit. Of. It. Up.
Because one day, all those crazy days of laughter, cartoons, sleep overs, Christmas morning magic, ballgames, practices and late night dinners-all comes to an end.
And you're left hoping that you did enough right so that when the time comes, and it will... they'll fly.
xo,
Misty
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