My art of homemaking post today is short…but something I have been thinking about a lot lately.
The other night we went to Hannie’s play performance for her elementary school. Our four year old sat bright-eyed and watched every bit of action while seated sometimes on his own chair and sometimes on his aunt’s lap. And after it was over he smiled, yawned and walked up to me. “Uppie, mama,” he said. And I looked down into his eyes a bit surprised because he hadn’t said those words in a long time. So, I did. I picked up that big four year old boy and he wrapped his legs around my middle. But when he said “uppie, mama”….I didn’t know if it would be the last time. And I didn’t want to miss my chance.
I feel like I blinked and my kids are old. It seems like yesterday that the oldest was 4 and I had a newborn. Time flies so fast.
And I worry everyday if I am teaching them everything they need to know. I think I will always worry. I think it’s a mother’s job. But I feel like right now I don’t want to miss those “last moments” with any of my kids. The last time the oldest asks for my opinion on something (or values it ;). The last time my middle girlie wants my advice on “what she should wear that day.” So even if those little things are frustrating and I feel like a broken record, I will answer them. Because I certainly don’t want to miss “the last time.”
~Elizabeth
P.S. I wrote some of my other homemaking thoughts on Facebook last week. HERE is the post if you want to read that one too.
“So even if those little things are frustrating and I feel like a broken record, I will answer them. Because I certainly dont want to miss the last time.”
*POW* you got me right in the gut
“So even if those little things are frustrating and I feel like a broken record, I will answer them. Because I certainly dont want to miss the last time.”
*POW* you got me right in the gut. Thank you for the gentle reminder.. to not miss the “real” important things.
Perfect as always. And that adorable photo of your son! Love those “smiling” eyes and lashes! Two nights ago my husband called me from my craft room “We need you”. What? “Somebody needs you.” He was with our 12 yr. old daughter, but she needed me to comfort her, like only a mama could I guess. I have a feeling our kids may need us longer than we know. 🙂
Every morning I scoop up my almost 5 year old wondering if it’s going to be the last time I pick her up. She’s nearing 50 pounds and I know one day I won’t be able to lift her any more. If I make a comment that one day she’ll be too big for me to pick up she always asks “but I won’t be too big for hugs, right?” Never too big for hugs.
A couple of weeks ago my 3-year-old daughter decided to wear her Spiderman costume to the library. It was the same costume her (5 year old) big brother had lived in when he was her age. I was thrilled.
Then my 7-year-old boy decided to wear HIS spiderman costume to the library. The legs were too short and it looked rather (ahem) constricting, but I didn’t dare discourage him.
When we got to the library, he wouldn’t take his coat off. I noticed him looking around, perhaps a little sheepishly. “Mom,” he said. “I want to take this costume off now and just wear the clothes I’ve got under it.”
It was very likely the last time my oldest will go out in public in a costume, other than Halloween. Going places in costume has been a BIG part of the past seven years, so yeah. I noticed. And cried on the inside.
Thanks for sharing, Elizabeth, and for giving me the opportunity to share that moment here. This growing up thing they do is so bittersweet.
When my oldest turned 13 (now she is 15), I had this moment of realizing we only had a certain number of Summers left to spend as a family, all together. It struck me because we usually don’t do anything grand. I started to wonder if I had shown her enough or if we all saw enough together.
We decided to take a road trip to Alaska. And no one will ever forget it. LOL
I still feel the race against the clock in a lot of ways, and will always answer when they call, and always hug them when they need it.
Always.
I think that is what makes us Moms.
Dear Liz, They are always your kids. No matter what age they become you will still be that important part “mum”. I have had four daughters 33,31,29&27,yep those first 8 years were hectic but I wouldn’t exchange them for anything in this world. It was like the decision my husband & I came to before we could have children, I was infertile so it was down the scientific path. As a result we decided that it was the most important thing in the world not for me to go back to work, I can’t do that now as I have become disabled so good choice, but my girls see us at least twice a week, we have family dinner (numbers up to 18 now because of son-in-laws & grandchildren) on Tuesdays & even now we still cuddle & “Mummm what do you think…..”. Do what you want or need for your burning passion as that is still important for you to grow as a person or you may come to feel cheated,I know it sounds strange, by the what ifs…. but they,the kids, will always have you as their mum.I only have just read these comments of Mach & it is now June but I felt it was important to encourage you. Marion Victoria,Australia