My wife and I are “that” couple who used to post too many
pictures of their dogs, but now post too many pictures of their kids. We know you are probably tired of seeing our
children. We get it and it’s not that we
don’t care – it’s just when you stare at walking talking miracles everyday it’s
hard not to want to share that with the world.
It’s hard to come up with the right words to describe
them. They are beautiful and
hilarious. They are messy and
adorable. They are clumsy and
frustrating. They are bright eyed and brilliant. There is something about them that captures
your heart, one small piece at a time – moment by moment – day by day until
suddenly you look up and the only thing that matters is sharing each experience
with them. Every thought. Every laugh.
Every bonk. Every cry.
And each moment is unbelievably precious. They happen so fast it’s easy to miss
them. They are like whispers that waft
through the air – if only you could catch them.
There are some that you are able to hold on to – to capture and keep for
a lifetime. But most fade and are
forgotten like buried treasures lying dormant waiting for someone to stumble
upon them.
There is nothing quite like being a parent.
And it’s true what they say …. Time moves so fast. They grow too fast. Things change to fast. You blink and something is gone.
In the past few months we have celebrated a 3rd
birthday and we have brought another child into this world. It’s hard not to be crippled by the truth
that time moves so fast. I have fought
the urge until recently when after both of our boys were in bed, my wife and I
watched a film titled, “Boyhood”.
The film is unique in that it was filmed over 12 years using
the same actors. And although what plays
out on screen is fictitious – the reality of watching a boy grow into a man
happens right before your eyes.
I have to confess there was a scene in the film that rocked
me. When the credits were rolling I
processed that moment and it brought me to tears. I started to cry uncontrollably and it took
me over an hour to regain my composure.
It brought me to a very hard truth.
In the scene, the mother is talking with her son as he is
packing to leave for college. She seems
upset and after her son presses her for the reason she admits, that she’s
lost. She always knew this day would
come – but as she said “I thought there would be more.”
But that’s the truth.
There won’t be more.
There won’t be another today. There won’t be another moment just like this
one.
As I sit here and write this there are 733 weeks until my
oldest son graduates. That seems like a
long way off, but as you have probably said it before – “it will be here before
you know it”.
Make the most of each day with your children. Make the most of each moment. There are plenty of things that seem like
they are worth doing, but we will never regret pouring into our children.
You may think you have time – you may think there will be
more.
But you only have right now.
