Life doesn't ever slow down once you have kids, or at least it hasn't for us. In fact it seems to constantly be accelerating. While life is flying by the kids change and keep changing. I've repeatedly, especially as a stay-at-home dad predominatingly obsessed with logistics and day-to-day tasks, needed reminders to keep perspective on the preciousness of these little years. I thank my wife for doing this. Before long they'll all be big and won't want to spend all their time with us like they do now.
I shouldn't want to rush through this time just because it's hard and exhausting and at times overwhelming. But that's too frequently my thought. Oh, I just need to survive for now. Oh, I'll have a better handle on (this or that) once we get through this season. Things will be better once they're older. That's no way to live, and if that's how it is for you it'll truly never stop being that way.
Here's what's making me introspective. Our eldest started kindergarten, real school, last year. It's a private Christian school (here were my thoughts on this decision) and all kids are dropped off in a 15 minute window in the morning, there is no bus. Every day last year I would let him out on the sidewalk, he'd walk down to the end, in front of the doors, and he'd wave and say goodbye as I drove past. I didn't realize how good I had it. This year, only one year later in 1st grade, he gets out of the car and walks (or runs) straight into the building. It was this way starting the first day of school, the old behavior forgotten or outgrown during the three months away. Now, already, I'm the one trying to catch up to him and say goodbye again before he's out of earshot.
A very little piece of my day, but one on my mind a few months now. It wasn't until he was done that I realized how much I liked it.
In a similar circumstance, our middle child at his nature school got clingy over the summer and drop-offs became difficult in the fall. For a few weeks he wouldn't let me leave without tears and clutching my leg (while our youngest played and wouldn't have minded taking his place, amusingly). Eventually we developed a process that included multiple hugs and waves goodbye as I drove out of the little parking lot. That is, of course, until this morning when he told me he no longer needed the waves or extra attention. He was ready to play and onto the time with his friends.
Here was something else forcing me to realize I didn't fully appreciate what I was living through. And that a post like this one (which had already been simmering for a while) needed writing, immediately.
Now these two are young and will continue to exhibit much more cuteness. They're both still innocent and good hearted, if a little wild at times, they're boys after all. They may even return to doing what I've described above, who knows. But these situations are weighing on my heart, making me want to do more to enjoy the time we're in right now.
They're also making me think of Andy Bernard.
FYI, these are the good old days. I need to soak them up.
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