Life - Don't Blink - You'll Miss It

I was reading my friend Cedar's blog this morning and she's inspired a train of thought for the morning. I recently turned 42 and my children range from 16 to 9. I look at these three wonderful humans and think, "They can't possibly be mine! I'm too YOUNG to have teens!" There are days when I feel like I'm 16 again...and days when I feel 96! Most days, though, it's more like 16; I keep waiting for my 'parents' to come home! As I hugged my youngest son good bye this morning, I noticed that he is indeed finally taller than I am - I stand 5'9 in my bare feet; he had sneakers on and I think he had a solid 2" on me! This baby was born nine weeks premature weighing only 4 lb 8 oz. I worried about him throughout my pregnancy and for months after his birth. He literally slept on my chest until he was five months old because I feared he would someone not live through the nights unless he was near me. He's now 14 and a handsome, strapping, young man, about to embark on his own life adventure. My oldest son is even taller - between the two of them I feel almost like a sapling between the redwoods. It's funny but sad at the same time - my babies are growing up and soon will fly out of the nest and start their own lives. That day will arrive all too soon and I wish I could put life on pause for a little bit and cherish the time I have now with these wonderful young people.

I spent 90% of their growing up as a stay at home mom. I returned to the workforce when my youngest child (my daughter) started kindergarten. I still work part time but also attend school full time. I spend the majority of my free time with my kids and am still very much an active participant in their lives. Much to their dismay, I still keep tabs on their whereabouts and know almost before they do, what they're doing! :)

My youngest 'baby' is also approach that time when hugging her ends up being a tear fest as I can't believe how tall she's getting and how mature she's turning. While she's only nine and still playing dolls, it's hard to think that in just nine short years, she'll be graduating high school and starting her adventure. We spend more time together since we are girls and like doing girly things together. She has had more of me these past nine years than her brothers did. I find myself sharing recipes (such as Cedar's ground beef stroganoff which is DELICIOUS!), teaching her how to do laundry, and helping her with homework. Of course I also do this with my boys - we call them LIFE LESSONS - but for some reason I spend more time sharing with her.

Life is a blur. Don't blink or you'll miss it!