Enjoy the enjoyable

Savoring the little things while they're little

By Katy England

There will always be something that is frustrating going on in your life – especially if you have kids. Because if it’s not happening to you, it’s happening to them. They will fight, whine, hit, sulk, get sick, be nosy, break things, have accidents and more. And if they aren’t, you are – be it a vehicle breaking, unexpected bills, needing to get work done, needing a break – the list of things to get stressed about is literally endless. You can drive yourself nuts – I have.

Which is why it’s important to make note of some of the nice things that go on in your life. Especially when it is passing so very quickly before our eyes.

The kids have always like the bus – the ritual of waiting for the bus has been filled with excitement since day-one. Pictures of the kids with grins lighting up their faces the first time the bus arrived is enough to lift me from a dark funk. If only we could all be so excited about our daily routine, right?

And since those first few days of clapping, and squealing with delight, things have evened out.  There is play, there is a bit of bickering – you know normal level stuff. But always enthusiasm when the bus arrives.

Lately though there was a change – right as the bus rolls up, all of the kids want to give mom and dad hugs and kisses. Which is something I love – I mean who wouldn’t right? So, I know it sounds like bragging – but hold on, it’s less bragging and more record keeping. Because here we are, in 2016 with walking, talking, mostly potty-trained human being who five years ago didn’t exist. And then they were babies and then toddlers and now they’re mini people.

And I don’t want to wax too sentimental, but I know that I won’t always be getting these hugs. I know that there will come a time when waiting for the bus becomes a chore (I remember waiting for a bus, my memory problems don’t go that deep). I just want to remember these things. I want to remember brushing their thistledown hair, and their full-on body-slam hugs when I pick them up. I want to remember the dance parties/exercise romps we have pre-bedtime. I want to wrap them up and put them in a box, because that’s as close as I can come to getting them to slow the heck down when it comes to growing up.

My son can already count to 18 and knows that’s when he becomes a grown up (let’s not spoil that little illusion). He also loves dragons and dinosaurs and Vikings. He was so excited about Smaug being able to talk, which was only trumped by his excitement about how people were able to kill Smaug – and you should hear him pronounce Smaug – it’s amazing.

And the girls hug each other. They will exclaim how they miss the other one if they aren’t in the same room. They will say goodnight (even after they have gone to the potty nigh on a dozen times after bedtime) and it never gets old.

Recently, after months and months of telling me not to sing, the girls are making requests. Requests! I could die.

And I know this is a screed of sentimental crap. But I need it to exist – because like the thistledown hair, and the hugs, and the raucous laughter – it might be gone, but I never, ever want to forget it. So I write it down – and it will go in my little box of memories.