When you first have children everyone talks about the challenges of parenting...the struggles of baby waking at night, the toddler who won't stay in their bed...the cost of childcare ... injuries from accidents. Having to take off work to pick them up from school when they don't feel well or got themselves into mischief making, then it's helping them with homework, messy house, the never ending laundry ,the cost to buy school uniforms and books and then there's the everyday lunches. All that passes away as you watch their little eyes light up on their birthdays or Christmas morning...the excitement, the joy... you just soak in the magic of those moments !!!
Raising your kids is exhausting and expensive...life is just so busy that you rarely even stop to think what the end of those look like. In fact it's not really even something you can wrap your mind around, you hold into thinking that 18-20 years sounds like a long time...then suddenly hours turn into days, days into months ,months into years...that little person that use to crawl up next to you in bed and cuddle up to watch cartoons...suddenly becomes this young adult who hugs you in the hallway as they come and go !!!
The chaos and laughter that use to echo throughout your home ...gets filled with silence and solitude. You've learned how to parent a child who needs you to care and protect them...but have no clue how the whole "letting go" thing is supposed to work
You hold on tight as you can ...wondering how time passed so quickly...feeling guilty that you missed something, because even though you had 20 years ...it just somehow doesn't seem like it was enough. You ask yourself so many questions!!!
Did you teach them the right lessons?
Did you read them enough books as a child?
Did you spend enough time playing with them?
Do you really know how much you love them?
What could I have done better as a parent?
When it's time for them to go ,it all hits you like a ton of bricks...all you can do is pray, trust and hope that as they start to make their way into the world alone ...that they'll be safe . Parenting is by far the most amazing experience of your life, that at times leaves you exhilarated, while others leave you heartbroken !!!
One thing is certain...it's enough time, so for all the parents with young children...whose days are spent trying to figure out how to make it through the madness...exhausted day in and day out.
"SOAK IT ALL IN"
Because one day...all.that crazy days full of cartoons,snuggles,sleep overs ,Christmas morning magic...all comes to an end. You left hoping that you did enough right, so that when they wings spread their wings...they'll fly !!!
@atticradiothecarouselneverstopsturning
Stay safe
V.