Though I wrote this original blog 11 years ago (almost to the day), the same message still holds true today, for many of us, and it's a good reminder of what really matters the most. ~ Mamareeves74 5/21/22
May 23, 2011
With all these graduations going on this month it really makes me stop and think because 2 years from now my son will have just graduated from high school! Where does the time go?! How did this happen? It's like I blinked and this little boy riding his trike in the backyard became a young man with this life of his own and plans for his future all without me even seeing the time pass.
When Riley was 6 we had Harley and I remember saying that I wanted to make sure I savored every single second of her first year because I didn't appreciate it enough with Riley, didn't take advantage of that precious time. Then, on her 1st birthday I thought, "Wait a minute! Where did the year go? I was going to savor every second!" That's when I realized that the time isn't flying because I'm not appreciating it and savoring it; time just goes really fast and kids grow up really fast and husbands and wives grow old together really fast and if we don't grab those moments and enjoy them, they're gone!
I first started taking classes for my teaching degree 8 years ago. In 8 years I've only had I think 3 semesters off, and that's including summers. I'm taking 2 classes this summer even. It's kind of become an addiction, this going to school thing. But I think about how many hours of the last 8 years I was bent over a keyboard, my back to the room, while my kids lived and played and grew. How many hours did my husband sit on the couch alone watching TV over the last 8 years while I was typing discussion board responses and article reviews and chapter summaries?
When I think about it, every single day there is probably some point within the day that I have to ask one of my kids or my husband to repeat themselves because I'm reading or sending a text, reading an email, checking facebook, or doing some other type of electronic activity whether it be by cell phone or computer. I think about all the times I've put up my hand to stop my daughter from talking or put up a finger indicating to give me a minute and I feel so guilty. I think about the times my husband has told me a story about something that happened at work and he's had to repeat himself because I was otherwise distracted and didn't quite catch it all the first time and I realize how wrong that is.
Time is something we never get back. Childhood is something we never get back.
I learned of someone passing away this week who is only a couple of years older than me and only a year younger than Rob. I don't know exact details or what the complete truth of the story is at this point, but I've been told she simply didn't wake up in the morning, that her husband discovered her that way and it was too late to save her. When I imagine telling Riley goodnight as he heads down to his bedroom and kissing Harley's cheek as I tuck her into her bed each night, or giving Rob the customary peck goodnight after a long day of work and household chores, and then never waking up to see them again it just absolutely terrifies me. Life is short and you just never know what tomorrow is going to bring.
So, I'm going to really try to give the people sitting next to me or across from me or walking past me more attention. I'm going to remember that if I stop typing an assignment for a class or an IEP for work, it's not going to disappear before my eyes. I'm going to make an effort to give the people who are with me more of me. Whether I'm hanging out at home with the kids or on date night with Rob or having a much needed dinner out with Angie, my attention will be on them because you can't take things for granted. One blink, and everything can change.
When Riley was 6 we had Harley and I remember saying that I wanted to make sure I savored every single second of her first year because I didn't appreciate it enough with Riley, didn't take advantage of that precious time. Then, on her 1st birthday I thought, "Wait a minute! Where did the year go? I was going to savor every second!" That's when I realized that the time isn't flying because I'm not appreciating it and savoring it; time just goes really fast and kids grow up really fast and husbands and wives grow old together really fast and if we don't grab those moments and enjoy them, they're gone!
I first started taking classes for my teaching degree 8 years ago. In 8 years I've only had I think 3 semesters off, and that's including summers. I'm taking 2 classes this summer even. It's kind of become an addiction, this going to school thing. But I think about how many hours of the last 8 years I was bent over a keyboard, my back to the room, while my kids lived and played and grew. How many hours did my husband sit on the couch alone watching TV over the last 8 years while I was typing discussion board responses and article reviews and chapter summaries?
When I think about it, every single day there is probably some point within the day that I have to ask one of my kids or my husband to repeat themselves because I'm reading or sending a text, reading an email, checking facebook, or doing some other type of electronic activity whether it be by cell phone or computer. I think about all the times I've put up my hand to stop my daughter from talking or put up a finger indicating to give me a minute and I feel so guilty. I think about the times my husband has told me a story about something that happened at work and he's had to repeat himself because I was otherwise distracted and didn't quite catch it all the first time and I realize how wrong that is.
Time is something we never get back. Childhood is something we never get back.
I learned of someone passing away this week who is only a couple of years older than me and only a year younger than Rob. I don't know exact details or what the complete truth of the story is at this point, but I've been told she simply didn't wake up in the morning, that her husband discovered her that way and it was too late to save her. When I imagine telling Riley goodnight as he heads down to his bedroom and kissing Harley's cheek as I tuck her into her bed each night, or giving Rob the customary peck goodnight after a long day of work and household chores, and then never waking up to see them again it just absolutely terrifies me. Life is short and you just never know what tomorrow is going to bring.
So, I'm going to really try to give the people sitting next to me or across from me or walking past me more attention. I'm going to remember that if I stop typing an assignment for a class or an IEP for work, it's not going to disappear before my eyes. I'm going to make an effort to give the people who are with me more of me. Whether I'm hanging out at home with the kids or on date night with Rob or having a much needed dinner out with Angie, my attention will be on them because you can't take things for granted. One blink, and everything can change.
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