Many of you parents will be familiar with those groggy mornings after a rough night with the kids. Some days go like a blur don’t they? Days when the fog of sheer exhaustion wraps itself around you like a thick duvet.
One such morning not long ago, Bill and I were lying there slowly coming out of our night’s stupor when –
‘Sound the Eden alarm!!’
Daddy sat bolt upright.
‘She’s escaped! She went after a bird. I told her not to!’
Daddy was off like a rocket. Somehow Eden had managed to find the front door keys and was down the street when he caught her. Only that Zoë, the ever responsible sister, reported for duty, who knows how far she would have got.
She was gone before we knew it.
Time is a bit like that, isn’t it?
Who could have imagined we would now be in our 8th week of lockdown?
It’s hard to take in that our little escapee will be three in a couple of weeks.
Many parents can’t believe it when they are getting their children ready to go to P1. Or sending them off to their first formal. Or walking their daughter down the aisle.
One thing my girls love to do is dance. The other day they dressed up as princesses and we pranced about to ‘Cinderella’ by Steven Curtis Chapman. The chorus goes like this:
“So I will dance with Cinderella, while she is here in my arms. ‘Cause I know something the prince never knew. Oh, I will dance with Cinderella, I don’t wanna miss even one song. ‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight… and she’ll be gone.”
‘Cinderella’ was written about Steven’s daughters, to remind him to appreciate each moment he had with his girls before they grew up.
And have to admit, it breaks me every time I hear it. Most especially because Maria, one of his precious little girls, is now in heaven. He’s now looking forward to the day he’ll dance with her again.
How many of us could have known that right now we wouldn’t be allow to hug our parents for three months? Or have dinner with our friends? Or visit our loved ones in care homes?
Time goes so fast sometimes it takes our breath away. But it doesn’t have to pass by unnoticed or unsavored.
- Slow down today
- Take a deep breath
- Take time to dance (even if you’re bad at it like me!)
- Hold your kids a little tighter
- Soak in every beaming smile and ripple of laughter
- Give your husband or wife a lingering hug in the hall
- Ask your friend how they are doing
- Post a letter to your loved one
This isn’t some cheesy plea to cherish every minute. We all know that is totally unrealistic.
It’s more of a reminder to myself to slow it down on those dark, grey, foggy days and capture those memories in full colour rather than blurred motion.
Intercept the escaping toddler of time. Treasure the important moments in a place where they won’t ever be lost. Because all too soon, this time will be over.
H x
Looking for Eden 