On Saturday I needed to run to the store. So I say to my husband, “Dude, I need to run to the store I will be back in a few minutes.” and then I walk down the hall to grab my purse and shoes.
When I return to the front door there are all my kids standing there with their shoes on and my husband is trying to coax them all into the backyard.
And then I ask…”What are you all doing?”
And the kids say, “We are coming with you.”
And then I say, “You’ve got to be kidding me! It’s Saturday go play in the backyard! Why do you all think you need to come with me everywhere I go?!?”
And then Simon says,
And then all those feelings that I needed to be able to go grocery shopping without the kids “just this once” melted away.
I looked at my little tribe…bed head, a backwards shirt, plastic princess shoes, expectant faces…and suddenly the prospects of shopping alone seemed very lonely indeed.
That band, my band, will only want to be by my side for a short time longer and before I know it I will be the one standing at the door (quite possibly with bed head, a backwards shirt, and plastic princess shoes) and I will be the one with the expectant face waiting for them to spend time with me.
Time goes by so quickly…
So yes, Simon let’s talk ALL THE WAY to and from the store about how many redheads there are in the world, how long it would take to count to a googolplex, or when Yellowstone is going to erupt into a giant volcano of fury. And yes Grace, I do need you to help me push the shopping cart through the store while Ruth empties it’s contents down the aisles.
Because all too soon you will be grown and I’ll have years to shop in solitude.
(And Simon, I will be thinking about it…)
-liZ
Love this. You totally made me tear up. I think about my kids getting bigger and that day spent together feels worth all the exhaustion.
Wonderful sharing. I have to say I can send my girls into our little local grocery together now for an item or two (or Ben and Jerry’s all around) while I sit in the car and wait because I want to. They are 12 and 15 so it is a good lesson. I recall the first days of going to the store without my first child. You get that “oh my gosh, where did I leave her?” because she was always right there. Weird sensation…then reality…”oh yeah, I have a moment to myself.” And like you, I always loved being right back with her. We just can’t stay away–sometimes even if we try. 🙂
That would have been enough for me to rethink that trip without them, too.
Beautiful.
My kids are 27 and 33 and I miss them every day. Enjoy every minute!!!
I love your thoughts in the post. You nailed it.
And I am enjoying your blog – from Anne, the woman you kept running into at Quilt Market 🙂
This post did really melt my heart 🙂 thank you for reminding me that only a short time our children want to be around us all the time..