Cherish Every Minute

I recently read a blog post about a mom's frustrated response to a reminder from a complete stranger to "enjoy every minute" of her motherhood because it goes by so fast.  I laughed as I related to this mom's negative response because I know how impossible it is to "enjoy every minute" of tantrums and sibling fighting.  Sometimes being a mom is not a very rewarding job.  I have spent hours preparing beautiful and nutritious meals for my kids only to have them complain about it and refuse to eat.  I try to nicely explain to my daughter why she can't push baby brother in his Jumperoo like he's in a swing only to have her spit in my face...literally.  I continue to interrupt my own sleep night after night as my infant refuses to close his eyes and get the sleep that he needs to be healthy and happy.  No, it's not always "rewarding".  And it's natural for us moms to get annoyed and even angry with all of the constant reminders from complete strangers to "enjoy every minute".

But sometimes these reminders are good.  And instead of resenting them, I have learned to try to be GRATEFUL for them.  Because with all the craziness of this same old everyday life, sometimes I lose site of the preciousness of life and I need the reminders.

My friend lost her baby last week and had to bury him today.  He was 12 months old....just learning how to move around and talk.  I think about the excitement she and her husband shared the day they found out they were pregnant, and again the day he was born.  I think about their joy when they saw his first smile and heard his first laugh, and the laughter they shared as they watched him joyfully smother his face with icing from his first birthday cake.  And my heart aches.  I think about how her arms are longing to hold him one last time...just feel that feeling of having him in her arms.  But the only way to feel it is to close her eyes and live the memory.  And my heart is forever changed.  Life really is short and precious.

The three children who live next door to me also experienced a great loss a few weeks ago, right before Christmas.  In just the split second of their mother losing control of her vehicle on the highway, their lives were forever changed.  She is in Heaven now, watching over them.  Her husband is now faced with the challenge of raising the kids by himself.  I'm sure they all think about the last time they spoke or embraced their mother, not realizing it would be the last.

And of course, there's Sandy Hook.  That was a day that made all parents hold our children a little tighter and give them a few more kisses when tucking them in at night.  Like many of you parents out there, I have pictured those children going through their normal morning routines, and giving their parents their last hugs and kisses as they headed off to school that day.

We take so much for granted, and life is short.  So, hold your babies tight.  Tell them over and over again how much you love them.  And really try to "enjoy every minute".  When they make a mess, be grateful that they are physically and mentally healthy enough to explore and have fun.  When they are nagging you to play with them or come see something when you're in the middle of something, think about what really should take priority.   When they are fussing and screaming, be grateful that you can hold and comfort them.  We're so blessed to have this precious time with our little ones, so let's go and try to cherish every minute of it.

In Loving Memory of Oliver "Ollie" Hinkle

Facebook Page in Memory of Ollie