I woke up today to this Trace Adkins song (yes, I know, I never listened to any country music before moving to Alberta but it's practically a requirement to be a country fan here) and the wheels of my mind began turning as I tried to wake up and focus on the words:
"You're gonna miss this/you're gonna want this back/you're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast/these are some good times/so take a good look around/you may not know it now/but you're gonna miss this."
The verses describe life with small children in all of its chaos, frustration and on-goingness. Many days there is a feeling of just barely hanging on, trying to survive and get to the other side of the early years of raising children. There is a relentlessness to the days and nights; it becomes easy to lose perspective on how short this time really is.
A few years ago I read a line that said, "With young children, the days are long, but the years are short." On the eve of William's 4th birthday, I can confirm that this is true. There were many times in the last few years where I felt certain I would never make it out alive. I was too exhausted, angry, afraid of my own short fuse and walked-on to be a person in my own right. Then one day I slept through the night, had a cup of coffee, poked my head up out of my rabbit hole and saw that there was a beautiful big world going on around me, and I had the energy to step out into the light and join in.
For those who are still in the bleary-eyed days of diapers, high chairs and midnight cries from your little ones, one day it will all be behind you. You will wake up to your country music station and get a little misty-eyed about the best parts of those days. Like childbirth, you'll remember the best parts and your subconscious will mercifully spare you from recollecting the traumatic bits.
Today I'm going to pay attention to the way William's tiny hand feels in mine when we cross the street. I'm going to focus on the sound of his piercing preschool voice instead of tuning it out. No stage lasts forever, good or bad, and we must be present in the middle of it to properly commit it to our memories. Today I plan to take a good look around since it's all going by so fast.
Great inspiration Julianne! The years do go by so fast and frequently I find my mind grasping for those days gone by - and I am SAD that they are gone!! I too am going to enjoy "moments". Like the feeling of Brooklyn cuddled up to me playing her leapster while I work.
ReplyDeleteMy days of recent have been enjoying my new baby. My first two babes were so close together and I was just learning all the mothering stuff, and now they are grown up 5 year olds. I am constantly reminded of this cross-stitched poem that hung on my mother's wall when I was a child:
ReplyDeleteCleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow, for babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs and dust go to sleep, I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
Glad to hear you were inspired, Cherlyn! It does go by fast when you are looking back, but some days can seem very long, as we can all attest to. :) I know I'll miss how cuddly and sweet they are when they sit in your lap - Ava still cuddles on my lap but she's so big now...
ReplyDeleteLindsay, that poem is so very true. I'm glad to hear you are enjoying your time with the 3rd baby as babies most definitely do not keep. Thanks for sharing the poem.
That is one of my favorite songs, and I too swore I would never listen to country and now its about all I listen to...hmmm
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