Let them be little

From the words straight out of a country song, Let them be little,  should be our motto as parents. Alyssa has her first loose tooth! There will never be another first loose tooth for her. She is growing up way to fast. Easton is out growing his clothes so fast he looks like he is wearing capris, and for a boy that is not cool! Or so I've been told! Have you ever stopped to think how fast time flies? I mean didn't I just take my Christmas tree down!! Wasn't my baby girl small enough to fit in my lap? Life is short hasn't ever really meant much to me, until recently when I lost my grandmother. All the years I spent with her, loving her, hugging her, talking to her, just being with her, are over. When did I have that last hug? That last I love you? Or see the last smile on her face? Then more recently Brad having his wreck, totaling our vehicle, has once again allowed me to realize he could have been gone. From the injuries to his spine and neck, one wrong move before the helicopter arrived could have killed him.

Too many parents these days seem to rush their children to grow up. Telling them ,"Don't be so childish! Grow up! Quit acting like a baby! Seriously, why rush them? I know we want to raise independent, educated, offspring, but will you remember that first loose tooth and wish you could go back for just a second and see it in your child's little mouth full of baby teeth. Will you remember the last time you brushed those little baby teeth and wish you could again? Or the last time they came and crawled into bed with you just because. They have all their life to be grown up, but childhood is such a short trip. Help them with their hair, and their clothes, and their baths as long as you can. Cherish those moments, because all to soon they are gone. Lots of parents will say they wish! But years from now ask them again. I bet their response will be different. Alyssa has an imaginary daughter. Not friend, daughter. Her name is Fifi. She likes pink and purple, and wants to be a doctor when she grows up. All donations to her college fund are welcome!! Easton loves to play basketball, has  enough energy to run a solar panel, and still loves pizza! These are just a very few things I always want to remember. They fight like cats and dogs, but would take on an army to save each other.

Alyssa is teaching me patience. Patience to take the time and smell the roses. Patience to enjoy reading her a bedtime story every night. Patience to help her walk to the van in order to help her build the strength she needs to hopefully walk independately one day. Because of this new learned skill, I have come to realize I can wait for my babies to grow up. I can wait for them to be able to blow dry their hair without my help, or brush their teeth alone. The toys that lay scattered throughout our entire home aren't forever. One day their rooms will not be occupied with Barbie dolls and stuff animals. I've heard the saying empty nest syndrome, and I want to make sure that I can feel completely at peace with knowing that I cherished each moment with them. That I did not rush them out of my life, because right now they ARE my life!