Over the weekend, I was at the grocery store with my husband and our two toddlers. Our 3 year old was wanting to put all of the groceries on the check out counter, and our 1 year old was already digging in to the Oreos we were buying. It was actually a pretty smooth trip compared to what some of our grocery store visits look like with two wild boys. An older man was behind us waiting to check out and made a comment to us to “enjoy it because it flies by and next thing you know they’re in college!” This isn’t the first time someone has told us that, and I know it won’t be the last. This time it really stuck with me though.
I don’t know if it’s because I’ve realized that our oldest only has one more year of pre-school left until he’s off to Kindergarten {HOW?!} or if it’s because when our oldest was our baby’s age now, I was pregnant with our baby. Either way, I’ve been thinking A LOT lately about how time can feel like a thief. I know that it’s such a cliche thing to say … but it’s true. Since becoming a mom, I’ve learned this all too well.
I am the sappiest, most sentimental person possibly ever, and when this man told us that at the grocery store the other day, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Many days can seem like an eternity when you’re in the midst of parenting two toddlers. Getting snacks, wiping butts, breaking up sibling fights, getting more snacks, doing ALL OF THE THINGS for everyone. It’s exhausting.
But one day they’ll be off to college and I won’t have the privilege of doing those things any more.
On many of those days consumed with monotonous parenting tasks, it can seem overwhelming. Having these two people who rely on you for basically everything in life is a lot to carry on your shoulders, but like I said, it’s also a privilege. Before I know it, they’ll both be in full time school. No more juices to get. No more butts to wipe. No more naps to take – just kidding, there will always be naps to take. Then they’ll be off to college! And I know once they are, I’ll miss those days and all the daily tasks that come with parenting my two wild toddlers. Heck, even just thinking about it I already miss it!
What I’m saying is, really try to soak in and be truly present for all the days of parenting. The good. The bad. The monotonous. The wild. Because you’re gonna miss these days when your babies are grown. But that’s what grandkids are for, right?