Basically every single week at church, a woman who has entered the stage of being a great-grandmother approaches me and tells me to enjoy the time with my children. I have always taken this advice seriously, so even on those days that are super, super hard, I try to step back and look at the big picture. On the flip-side, I do not guilt myself for having thins about young children or even motherhood that I do not like. I am positive I will not miss every single thing. There are memories we will all be happy to leave behind us.
When I was a little girl, I dreamed of being a mother. I played with my dolls and was sure I would have twelve children someday. I have no doubt that I will look back in equal fondness on the magic that was motherhood, allowing time to erase the realities of what it felt like to be utterly exhausted.
I am at a serene moment of parenting. I am still in it, but I also have some space for reflection. I look back on memories with the babies and the pudgy toddler fingers. Those were indeed good old days.
I don’t want them to be THE good old days. I want all of the days to have elements I can look back on with fondness. I want the teenage years to be good old, also. I want the years they have grown and I am a grandmother to be good old. When I am a great-grandmother, I want to be able to look back on my time spent in those days with fondness and be able to sigh, “Those were the good old days.”
No matter what days of my life I look back on, they have potential to be the “good old” ones. I love the song “Good Old Days” by Macklemore and Kesha.
I wish somebody would have told me thatSome day, these will be the good old daysAll the love you won’t forgetAnd all these reckless nights you won’t regretSomeday soon, your whole life’s gonna changeYou’ll miss the magic of these good old days
I love that. All the love you won’t forget. You’ll miss the magic of these good old days.
There are so many things about young children that are magical. The peace that surrounds a sleeping newborn. The wonder of a toddler. The giggle of a preschooler. The first word. The first steps. The first time you have a real conversation with your child. It is all magical.
Never thought we’d get old, maybe we’re still youngMaybe we always look back and think it was better than it wasMaybe these are the momentsMaybe I’ve been missing what it’s aboutBeen scared of the future, thinking about the pastWhile missing out on nowWe’ve come so far, I guess I’m proudAnd I ain’t worried about the wrinkles around my smileI’ve got some scars, I’ve been aroundI’ve thrown some pain, I’ve seen some things, but I’m here nowThose good old days
This. Maybe these are the moments. Been scared of the future, thinking about the past while missing out on now. But I’m here now.
All of these moments in life are moments we can potentially look back and miss. The great trick to life is to learn to love the moment you are in. Love that moment. Live that moment.
Read: How I Avoid Yelling at My Children
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