Growing Up Too Fast

If you think that your children grow up too quickly, wait until you have grandchildren. The time seems to pass by even faster with them.

When my children were babies and toddlers there were days when I thought they would never grown up. It seemed like an endless array of bottles, diapers and chasing a new walking toddler. Always worried that they would get into the many things they should not.

And then they started school, and right before my eyes the teenage years were upon us. Soon they were driving a car which brought on a whole new set of worries. Needless to say we survived all of that and then they stood before me as adults. Ready to take on the world and make their own decisions about life.

They now have children and it seems like only yesterday my first grandchild arrived. I still see him as a tiny child, but the reality is he will soon be a teenager. A cell phone carrying teenager. His sister is already a bright second grader. And their cousin, the baby of the three, will be entering school in a few short months, and she can't wait for this to happen.

Although all of this has transpired over the last twelve plus years, it seems like it has just been the blink of an eye. In my mind I see the tiny babies I held so gently, feeling my heart fill with the unconditional love that I have for them. Wanting them to stay forever this way so they could be protected. Just as I felt when I held my own children as infants.

The truth is when I look at them I see the babies are gone forever. My grandson looks like a young man, and the girls are far beyond the toddler stage. However my heart will always let me see them as the tiny infants that need protecting. And just as with my children, I will know this is not possible to do.

For now I will take all the innocent joy and love of a child they have to give. I know that the years will pass by at lightening speed, and soon they will be standing there as adults ready to take on the world.

September 2014

And Today

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