Kids

So it's May and it's still snowing but at least the winds ahve died down somewhat. So demon gave us a ride and we made it to the mall for Stuff-a-Plush - and now we're home with an adorable duck christened Quacker. Still snowing out there mind you.


Children grow at their own pace and no amount of wishing, commanding or trying to force them will change that. Be realistic, keep your expectations real, and remember that they will grow out of almost everything eventually. the more you stress and struggle to make them into something they aren't ready to be, the harder it will be on everyone concerned.

Kids are only young once, they grow up way too fast so enjoy them while you can. Don't waste precious time that could be spent enjoying them by wishing it away wanting them to be something they aren't. If you don't enjoy them as they are now, whatever that now is, all too soon you'll find they've grown up and are moving away from and into lives of their own, leaving you wishing you could turn back the clock and do it again.
And that isn't going to happen.

Don't miss their childhood by always being focused on reaching the next step, the next goal, the next milestone. Don't aim so hard for that next step that you always miss the ones they're taking right now. Every day is full of things that are new to them, and each day that passes is one that you can never get back again.

Take time, stop and watch the robin hunt for worms, blows bubbles in the bath, make dandelion wishes in the sunshine, make snow angels or just stand still and feel the icy soft touch of snowflakes on your face.

There is already way too much hurry up in this world. The basics of life, work, mundania, will wait a little while, children won't. Far too soon they'll be living their own lives, with their own friends and interests, away at school all day and they won't want us to be a part of their world in the same way. And then, it'll be too late for anything except regrets over the times we missed out on as we hurried them through their childhood.

The best thing we can give our children is time, time to simply be children, time to discover the world as they see it, and time with us. The best thing we can give ourselves is time with them while they are still being children.

No parent ever went to their deathbed thinking "I wish I had spent more time at work and less time with my children."

Childhood is finite, don't waste theirs wishing it away. Once it's gone, you can never get it back, and then you have the rest of your life for regrets.