Like, probably, all of you, I have a number of friends who no longer have young children or any children at home. And like, probably, all of you, these friends often remind me that one day I won’t have my children at home—and I’ll miss it.
While I know that they’re right, I don’t know that hearing that makes it any easier now. On the days when I can’t get enough of my kids, knowing that one day they’ll leave me only makes me even more desperate to soak in as much as I can (which I was already doing).
On the days when Hayden wakes up 5, 6, or 7 times at night, pukes, refuses to try to nap, and wails/moans for me every 20-30 minutes, I’m a desperate for a very different reason, wishing that they were a little more correct in saying that these times are gone in an instant.
And since today is one of the latter, hearing that comment is less likely to make me smile and nod and more likely to make me bite my well-intentioned friend’s head off. (Probably a good thing none of these friends have come by today.)
How about you—does being reminded that these days are “fleeting treasures” help you or hurt you in your daily life?