29.12.11

Time Passed

Most days when I look at my children, I notice the dirt on their faces, whether their hair or teeth have met with a brush, if they're clutching contraband in their closed hands (what? Christmas candy abounds!).

But today, looking at pictures taken at the "best birthday party ever!" (as Javi refers to his party), I caught a glimpse of time passed. It was this photo that did me in:

2011

These boys ... now both solidly 11-year-old fifth graders who are ready and excited to move on to middle school in a few months. These boys ... on the cusp of manhood, using deodorant, pointing out each other's underarm hair. These boys were once these boys:

2009

And before that they were these boys:

2007

And then my heart clenches up. The time just dissolves between work and family and social and volunteer obligations. It just goes.

Forget the dirty faces and stolen jelly beans and go bask in your babies. You can't stop time, but you can definitely make better use of it.

9 comments:

  • BigLittleWolf

    Oh, it's so easy to get caught up in the blur of responsibilities which are necessary to their nurturing! And we don't force ourselves to take the time to enjoy the little moments that add up to sweetness.

    And sweet it is.

    We all need to slow down and savor.

    Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday, Kelly. (Enjoy that budding "manhood!")

  • Cheryl

    *sniff* Such sweetness! And I love this --> "You can't stop time, but you can definitely make better use of it." I need to tattoo that on my forehead or something.

    Happy New Year!

  • Bibliomama

    Yes yes yes. But the sweetness is still there. And no matter how much we savor the time, it still goes - which is part of the bittersweetness.

  • Rudri Bhatt Patel @ Being Rudri

    So sweet and touching. Your last line is a reminder we all need. Thanks.

  • Anonymous

    Amen, my friend. Amen!!

  • Cathy Reaves

    Love it. My screensaver for my laptop is a slide show of all the pictures I have on my computer. I am reminded so often of that passage of time always feeling nostalgic. But then I think, every age has issues and just because they're cute and smiling in a photo does not mean they weren't a little devil to me at some point! Love it though - truly.

  • Anonymous

    Oh my goodness, time really does fly!! What a gift to have a life long friend for Javi to play with, and grow up with! I gasped when I thought of him entering middle school! I REMEMBER those years!!!!!

  • Stacia

    This makes my heart clench up, too. Gotta go hug my babies now ...

  • Anonymous

    I love your blog! I have a son and hubby who are ADHD and son is also Bipolar, daughter has learning disability....never a dull moment. I recently started blogging and am now looking for mom blogs with similar issues! I am now following you....please come on over and check me out http://wts2011.blogspot.com/
    Thank you!
    Jo

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