Treasure Your Kids When They're Little - They Grow Up Fast

When you’re about to have your first child they talk about the challenges of parenting....the struggles of  sleepless nights, the tantrums, the messy house, having to take time off when they don’t feel well, helping them with homework, the never-ending laundry, the cost of bringing up a child, dinner-time challenges etc.. etc....

You watch and encourage them in their passions, rushing to practices and matches. You drive them all over the county to let them play the game they love, no matter how exhausting or expensive it becomes. You watch your kids eyes light up on Christmas morning and their Birthdays. You listen to them whilst they excitedly tell you about their video game. All the time you’re cherishing these magical moments.

Life as a parent is chaotic and that any thought of what it will look like when they are grown-up and young adults passes you by. You have a thought-process that 18 years is a long time. Then suddenly hours turn into days, days into months, and months into years. Your child that used to snuggle up next to you and twirl your hair with their bottle hanging out of their mouth suddenly becomes a young adult who shouts you farewell in the hallway as they come and go. And the joyful shouting, running around and laughter that used to echo throughout your home is suddenly filled with silence and emptiness.

You’ve learned how to be a parent to your children that needs you to care for and protect them, but you’ve not prepared yourself for how “letting go” is supposed to happen. So you continue to hold on to them wondering how the time has passed so quickly with a niggling parent guilt that you maybe missed something or you could have done something better; we question ourselves and wonder if we did enough. Because even though you had 18 precious years it somehow doesn’t feel like it was enough. You question yourself; Did you spend enough time playing with them? What could I have done better as a parent? And, then when they are full grown adults, it hits you like a ton of bricks.  You know you will always be there for them, even when they don’t need you anymore, and you desperately hope they will grow and thrive, and that you did do enough.

Parenting is by far the most amazing experience of your life; it’s never enough time, that’s the truth. Because, just like that, they are adults. Whilst it's impossible to freeze time, strive to be mindful and intentional in your parenting journey.