It would be nice–every once and a while–to make time stand still. To catch the blades of a propeller mid flight and have the ability to hover effortlessly.
Just for a moment so that we could look over, savor our children…their beauty and all that they are all in one precious moment…all to ourselves. The march of childhood moves quickly. And what a thing to be weightless and into the air without the distraction of aging and the ticking clock of time. Innocence preserved, our unconditional love packaged, and our children just as they are. Because we all know tomorrow will look different. To get them in a gasp of time, beautiful and unique, even if only for a moment. Wouldn’t it just be so nice–every once and a while–to make time stand still?
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Laura says
Your nostalgic post today definitely captures my frequent thoughts about how quickly time flies when you’re a parent. When I’ve had one of those really great days where no one in my household has melted down and everything has been fun and breezy, I find myself thinking how much I wish I could freeze time – days like that, moments like that, are pure treasures. Yesterday, my 5-year-old son was jealous of my 7-year-old son who got to have a playdate with a school friend. My 5-year-old was about as grumpy as he gets about it, and did everything in his power to try to destroy our family time together last night. Meanwhile, my almost-2-year-old was busy filling in any peaceful gaps with his own meltdowns. Needless to say, I was pretty tuckered out by the time bedtime rolled around, and wasn’t too sad to kiss the day goodbye. But even on the hard days, when everyone falls fast asleep, those feelings of longing for time to stand still come immediately rushing back as I gaze at sleeping faces. Last night, I did what I do frequently, whether the day has been good or bad – I waited until they were asleep, and then quietly tiptoed back into their rooms and hovered next to their faces, whispering to them as they slept and telling them how much I love them and how wonderful they are. I hope those whisperings in the still of the night last night cancelled out any of the noise from earlier in the evening when frustration was at its height. I always tell them I love them before they fall asleep, even at the end of a grouchy evening, but I hope the whisperings last night punctuated my feelings that even on a hard day, they’re still the most awesome beings in my life.
Kathy says
Indeed!!! I say this to myself (and my husband, and others) regularly.
Angela Pope says
Ahh yes – time flies. The marks on the wall to show how tall she is getting these days. The growth spurt of an inch in the last month seems to speak to me. Kindergarten seems to loom over-head rapidly speeding up the months to September. How did we get here? Didn’t I just give birth to a beautiful baby girl in time which seems in many ways like just months ago? How the stress of the day melts away when I hear her running to me, ready to jump in my arms when I walk in the door from work at the end of the day “MOMMY!!!! MOMMMY!!!!” If only I had an internal record button where everything I see could be captured at the time, in the moment it happens so I could replay at any time later in life. Thank you for stating so simply the thought making time stand still.
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD says
Angela, I totally agree.
The “How did we get here?” is a near every day muttering for me. And parents say the same thing to me in the office over and over when I see their kids for well child care.
But you’re right. Life can be very simple at moments. The clean and clear “Mommy, Mommy” narrows everything down to what matters most in our lives…