"You're gonna miss this. You're gonna want this back. You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast. These are some good times, so take a good look around. You may not know this now, .....but You're gonna miss this." -Trace Adkins
great country song with a story. the link to the video is below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBDN8yWyNYU
I AM missing this!!!! I WANT it back! I WISH the infant, toddler, and pre-school days hadn't gone by so fast! They WERE some good times! I HAVE taken a good look around and I KNOW this now, THAT I'm gonna miss this.
Are you crying yet? I AM! I was! I have been for the past two weeks! I have replayed this song and these words in my head over and over and OVER for the past few weeks as I, like many of you are preparing to send my kids back to school. I normally DON'T get emotional when back to school time comes around, BUT this year is different. This year my baby, my youngest child is starting Kindergarten. I didn't cry when Harleigh went to Pre-K. I didn't cry when she went to Kindergarten last school year. I didn't cry when Maverick went to Pre-K last year either, but there is something about KNOWING that your last and youngest child is closing the door on his pre-school years that have seemed to slowly drag by and fling open the door to his future and from what I hear FAST PACED school years! I think part of me is so sad because everyone tells me that once they start the school routine life gets busier and time flies by and before you know it your are teaching them to drive, helping them pick out their attire for prom, cheering them on in their varsity sport, designing their senior ad in the yearbook, and watching them walk across the stage and into the real world of college and or a career. LIFE PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE.....SLOW DOWN! Harleigh's Kindergarten year and Maverick's Pre-K year FLEW by! "It happens in a blink, it happens in a flash, in happens in the time it takes to look back, you better hold on tight, 'cuz there's no stopping time.."...- Revive
Two weeks ago I realized why I have been so emotional, I will never have a child starting their first day of Kindergarten again! And...as I get older Summers get "shorter"and go by faster every year! True story!
Since the summer after Harleigh finished Pre-K the summers have gotten shorter. Not literally but, time wise they truly have. The summers from 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 were loooooong summers because of their ages, the schedules and naps that kept me tied down, the endless diaper changing, feeding, potty training, and how dependent my children were on me. Summers 2012 and 2013 were a short and bitter sweet, because my children are much more independent. I am no longer waiting for them to get to an age where we can do "stuff" together. They can swim, bike, hike, fish, tube,play ball, fix their own food, turn on their own cartoons, dress themselves, and load up in the car and buckle themselves ( can I get an AMEN on that last one!) etc. I'm not sitting around waiting on the next milestone. I can't wait till they roll over or sit up. I better get the video camera because any day now they will take their first steps or say their first words. I can't wait till they learn to read and write and to tell time! There isn't time to wait on the milestones to happen! They are reaching them before I have time to take a picture, video it, or write it down!
YOU CAN NEVER, NEVER, EVER, EVER TAKE TOO MANY PICTURES!...EVER!
I believe around the ages of 4-6 they learn so much, so fast there is just no way to capture it all. Their brains are SPONGES people! HUGE SPONGES, like the ones I wash my Suburban with! They just SOAK UP EVERYTHING! This is also the age where you have to really dig in your heels when it comes to structure, parenting, and discipline. They are going to be swimming in a "school" with lots of new and different fish. Fish that live in ponds, oceans, streams, lakes, and rivers much different from the one they live in. They will learn that their friends parents have different rules. They start to figure out that mom and dad don't know everything and they start to test you. So be consistent. Be careful what you allow them to see, hear, and do. MOST IMPORTANTLY get on your KNEES daily and PRAY for your children. Pray for their teachers. Pray for their classmates and teammates. Pray for the friends they will choose and friendships they will build. Pray that God will give them people daily to be a mouthpiece for him that will speak truth and love into their lives. Pray for them to love God and to know him in their heart. Pray for them to love others. Pray for them to forgive when others hurt them and know that we are all born bad/ sinners but through God's love for us and him giving his life for us we can choose to be good and do good through his power at work within us! Pray for God to help you be the parent that they need you to be and he designed you to be. My friend Dawn Smith said that she had a former pastor back at their church when they lived in Texas tell her this and it has resonated with me this week: " You are NOT responsible for raising godly children, but you ARE responsible for being a godly parent." Gulp, do you have a lump in your throat right about now? I do! That is a tall order!
For the past six weeks I have been working at new job to help provide for us financially until our home sells. I have been an emotional mess and cry for no reason. Get a lump in my throat and start to choke up over the most random things, but it is because I fell like I am "missing it." From the time I leave the house to the time I get home, I am gone for about 11-12 hours, Monday through Friday. One hour to get the kids dropped off, and commute to work. Nine hours at work. Another hour after work to pick up the kids, drive home, run an errand or two. By the time I cook dinner and clean up the kitchen, and pack lunches for the next day, I am too tired to play with or really enjoy my kids. This BREAKS my heart! The busyness and time away from my kids and our home has made time and this summer go by faster than EVER! I am not ok with this! But for now this is life. Choices Jimmy and I made brought us to this point and it was time for me to pick up my shovel and help him start digging us out of the financial pit we are in from not saving and biting off a mortgage that was more than we could chew! I know it is only for a season but during this time I have to pray that God will give me the strength to parent them lovingly when I've had enough. Pray that he will impart wisdom to me when I dealing with how to handle a difficult situation they are having at school. And Pray that he will give me the energy I need, in order to play with and enjoy my kids for the very FEW hours I get to be with them each day. I know God is faithful. I know he will provide. And I know that I can press through this season because it won't be forever. I will eat PBJs, cut off our TV, and live in a tiny house before I will give my life to a job to buy stuff, be busy, have a big house, and a nice car. I won't do it. I did that already for a while and it didn't work out so well. And I don't care to EVER do it again.
Ephesians 5:15-17 is a great truth from God's word to hide in your heart especially when it comes to parenting our children!
15 Therefore [j]be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 [k]making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
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Ephesians 5:15-17 NASB
So with us all being reminded that our kids are only this "age" for a little while, I want to challenge myself as well as you, NOT TO BE IN A HURRY! Life happens and it will hurry you along whether you want it to or not. Be INTENTIONAL. Slow down. Stop and take just one more picture. When your eyelids weigh 1,000 pound, read them one more book or bedtime story. When they ask you to check the closet, check under the bed, turn on their lamp and two night lights, and pray with them before bed, and beg you to ask Jesus to "take away all the monsters and put good dreams in their heart and head" just one more time,do it without rolling your eyes. When you are ready to fall into your own bed, snuggle with them in theirs one minute longer and hug them one squeeze tighter. When it's hot and humid outside agree to watch them ride their bike, or kick the ball one more time.Proudly tell them how much you love that drawing of monsters or butterflies they just drew for you, for the 15th time in two days! We aren't promised tomorrow. Our CHILDREN are a PRECIOUS GIFT that GOD has ENTRUSTED to US! Spend our time with them WISELY.
Another song that I have been singing in my head this week is the one below. It may make you cry too, but it is sweet and uplifting!
"I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams, and that faith gives you the courage to dare to do great things. I'm here for you whatever this life brings, so let my love give you roots and help you find your wings."- Mark Harris
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXofFc3BBpA
Praying for all my mommies out there as school starts back! Monday August 12th be praying for me as I close the door to our Pre-School years and walk through the door of Elementary School beyond!
-Linds
