Love (My Job) Thursday

Please pardon the radio silence from this end. It's been a busy couple of weeks with our new puppy and all the poop and all, and now my mother-in-law is here for a visit so I'm busy with all that's involved with having a house guest. Plus, drinking.

It's funny because I had one of those "Man, where did the last decade go?" moments yesterday and then when my mother-in-law got here, it was reinforced even that much more. Yesterday, I was in the grocery store parking lot and something in the car next to me caught my eye. It was the exact same car seat that I used for both of my kids as toddlers --same blue plaid cover on it, even. (I would link to it but the fabric has apparently been discontinued. I bet half of y'all had the same seat--the Britax Roundabout?)

It was amazing to think of how many times I buckled and unbuckled that car seat and how different it is now that my kids are out of car seats altogether. I wonder sometimes if there is any other experience like parenting small children--so incredibly hard and so relentless and yet we just wouldn't trade a single moment of it away. Even with the puppy, I would very gladly skip over a few of his phases. (For example, I'd gladly jump right past the phase we're in now where he puts both feet in his water dish and tries to dig up the cooler water from underneath. Hardwood floors, you know.) (Also, the digging of small holes all over my yard, I could pretty much do without that one and not ever miss it.) But with my children, I would do every minute of it again --the potty training and the tantrums and the ear infections...

So, then my mother-in-law arrived and it turns out that my older daughter Ana is now taller than her grandmother.

Whoosh, there it went --eleven years of my life. The BEST eleven so far.

Comments

Miri said…
Ooh, boy, do I recognize this post. The sentiments behind it are so universally momtrue. And I have to add that your girls look smashing in their Adirondack chairs, reading. They'd fit right in over here! (Except for the tall part. Tell Ana to stop that already; it's making the short people feel bad. By that I mean me. But anyone else who wants kids to not grow taller than them, feel free to jump on my fruitless bandwagon.)
LaDonna said…
I know what you mean. My kids have a scale by which they measure themselves. First, a very good friend of ours who is about 4' 10'', next my mother who is 5' exactly, and another family friend who is 5' 1 1/2'' inches (she insists you give her the 1/2 inch!). Next step is my sister who is 5'2'' and then me at 5'4''. (Yes, we're a short bunch around here). Paige is between my sister and me while Marissa was thrilled to find that she finally reached Step 1 at a get together in April. And every time they get taller than the next person on the ladder, I want to put heavy bricks in their heads to keep them from growing up anymore. Do you think that would work?
Unknown said…
yeah, I turned around in the car last night and saw a little boy sitting in his booster seat, no sign of a baby at all. I almost cried.

plus, my very first puppy ever is about to turn 9 and is all white around the eyes.
Robin said…
:-) I love the way you write about your girls. It touches my heart and reminds me of how thankful I am for each moment I spend with my little one. Thank you for making my day!
Oh, the seasons, they go 'round and 'round...and the painted ponies go up and down...
Barb Matijevich said…
It's funny you should quote that particular song, SC. It was the lullaby I sang to my kids when they were small...
DK said…
Awww...gosh, I guess they really ARE turning into women...

At least they're not digging holes in the backyard, too. I used to do that when I was a puppy. I think I was somewhere between four or six or something and decided I should look for dinosaur bones in the back yard. But four or six year olds can't dig very deep holes, and of course I'd get all distracted and go dig another one...my father was always sort of like, what?? You were doing what???
Mary Ellen said…
It goes by so fast. Both of mine are WAY taller than I am, and nobody is digging in the backyard anymore. I'd do it again, though, just like you. Precious moments - enjoy them!