A recent Facebook exchange with my friend, Molly, made me realize I need to slow down and cherish the years I have with my young children. Molly has four children and her eldest recently graduated from high school. Now he’s heading off to college.
Days leading up to his graduation, I could sense her sorrow. She posted this message about her son growing older: “I never saw it coming, I never imagined it to be this fast, and now that it’s here, a tear comes to my eye. My little boy is not a baby, and I am so proud of him. Making Powerpoint for graduation party. Tears in Progress. Approach with caution!”
She also posted a photo of him when he was just a cute, little butterball of smiles. A couple days later, more photos, but this time he was in his cap and gown towering over Mom and Dad.
- All shades and smiles.
It hit me like a ton of bricks. Her sense of loss is exactly what I will be feeling in eight brief years with my oldest. Eight years seems like a long time until I sit back and reflect on how fast the past 10 have gone.
Molly, Tyler, and Stacen Gross.
I told Molly that we should look into patenting an electrical collar for graduates that operates in a similar fashion to the canine kind: One that would allow our kids to venture off, but give them a gentle reminder to not stray too far away from home.
I wrote the following poem to remind myself that life moves on when we least expect it. We should stop and savor the good times. I hope it provides a little comfort to all the moms and dads out there who are trying to find their way in life’s new chapter.
MAKING LIFE STAND STILL
In the blurry days of summer, when light takes hold of dark
When kids grow faster than flowers, and memories make their mark
When you spend time treading water to keep your head afloat
And reflect on putting pen to paper or making mental note
The older you get the more you sit and watch your days unfold
It’s the same story from parent to child no greater truth will ever be told
You yearn to rewind and freeze time but know you never will
For humankind is simply powerless at making life stand still
Far too often we fail to recognize when all is good and right
When troubles are fairly minimal and we sleep peacefully at night
Our perceived hardships are quite trivial in the grand scheme of things
Surrounded by those who love us, true contentment family brings
Moments are like bubbles of time floating carelessly in the breeze
Both beautiful and fragile they move on as they please
You try relentlessly to catch them knowing in your heart you never will
For humankind is simply powerless at making life stand still
Heidi Woodard is married with three children. Read her Thursdays on momaha.com
