Trying to Stop Time
June 5, 2010
We interrupt our regularly scheduled DIY blogging to bring you this sentimental post.
You’ll have to forgive me for disappearing for a few days – I’ve been busy trying to make time stand still for just a moment.
With my youngest daughter finishing kindergarten, and my oldest stepdaughter graduating from high school, it suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks when I was watching my youngest twirl with her friends on her last day of school.
When it comes to the time you have with your children, time never stops, in fact it flies at light speed.
I met my hub and his three year old girl in 1995, and that little angel crawled up on my lap and completely stole my heart. Over the years, I’ve been blessed to watch her grow from a toddler to a full grown adult, and all it happened in the blink of an eye.
Fortunate for me, as a stepparent, I’ve been able to experience so much of what comes with the joys of parenting.
I was there when she brought her first pet home with all the promises that she would care for it always, forever and ever, every day.
The cat ran away two weeks later, and we never saw it again.
But then there was a guinea pig, with all the same promises.
And then there was a dog, with all the same promises.
Yes, we indulged her, fully aware that we were the ones who’d care for the family pet most of the time.
I’ve watched her play multiple seasons and countless hours of sporting events from middle school through her senior year, even carrying her team to the regional championship this year.
I’ve been there for the homework, the school projects, even the report on Albert Einstein and the accompanying costume. I’ve loved watching her spirit and gumption – how she loves to take on new challenges without fear.
I watched her bloom over time from a pretty young girl to a teenager with braces.
I’ve loved watching my daughter grow from a little girl who used to play pretend dress up to a beautiful young lady, both inside and out.
And after witnessing all of this, you realize as a parent that the child never really belonged to you at all. You were only given the wonderful gift of temporary custody for a brief period of time.
I wasn’t prepared for the series of emotions from the last two days. I’ve felt joy, pride, excitement, happiness and sorrow, and I’m already missing that sweet little girl that forever stole my heart.
I am so proud that she is headed off to an incredible university in the fall, but my heart is so heavy with the thought of the empty space in our home.
So my message today is simply this.
Forget the laundry and the dirty dishes. Check your email later. Close your computer and put down your phone. Ignore Facebook, and forget all about Twitter today.
Go make some memories with your child. Read to them, play with them, hug them and love them. Be there for them when they stumble and when they are victorious – they will always remember that you were. And even if they don’t remember it all, you will treasure the memories made. Make your legacy your presence in their lives.
Because it’s only a few moments until they go from this . . .
. . . to this.
And then they fly away.
Time is an unstoppable force. It’s become abundantly clear to me that you can never stop time, so you must, without fail, cherish the moments that you are given.
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Tags: stepdaughter, stop time
Very beautiful post and yes is tru the time past very fast.
We must enjoy every moment with them! Thanks for the reminder
Hugs
Oh, Kate, I so appreciated this post! :) I just got home from a few days in Texas. I thought I’d LOVE the time away from the constant demands for crackers and “just one more cartoon” and laundry and all of that…but I actually missed it (after the first day). :) I loved the photos and story you shared today. I like it when bloggers take a step away from their normal posting to share what’s on their hearts. :)
This is such a beautiful post. I am so touched by reading this, I hope you share this with your step daughter. What a supportive relationship you obviously have!
Thanks for that post! Shutting down computer now. =)
What a beautiful post. Great photos and memories too. Time certainly does fly. There are 11 years between my (not so little) brother and I. I remember the day he was born, his first steps, his first day of kindergarten. Now he’s all grown up, graduated and I am amazed that so much time has gone by and yet I feel like those moments were just yesterday.
As much as I love a clean and organized home, the message I’ve seen from many bloggers is clear-make your kids the priority and you’ll never be sorry you did. I can’t wait to have children one day and make wonderful memories together. :)
Warmly,
Karla
Beautifully put, thank you for sharing. I’m going to get a kleenex now- no joke :)
WOW. Your daughter is drop dead gorgeous! Wishing her all the best when she goes to college in the fall! My oldest starts high school in a couple of months, and I know it’s going to fly by!!
That is such a beautiful post… wow. And it makes me feel good that my blog is not the most updated thing lately, as I’ve been enjoying the first days of summers with my two little girls.
This really made me smile, thank you for sharing your thoughts and inner feelings. It just tugs at our heartstrings when our children do exactly what the intended purpose – to go on in this world taking with them the lessons and values we have given.
Recently I became a grandmother, my only child had his first child – a son. As I gazed at the baby my eyes watererd up thinking about that exact moment I held my son and wondered what life had in store for him. Now, I’m thinking about my grandson and hoping that life will be good and he will be a good person too. God blesses us in many ways through our children.
Great post Kate! I’m sure she feels lucky to have someone like you for a stepmom. Also, your youngest daughter and stepdaughter look so much alike in their toddler pics! Thanks for such a “feel good” post.
OMG, my eyes filled with tears reading this post. Maybe I’m just a sap, but seriously– beautifully written. Thank you for sharing.
Love this post Kate!! I understand how quickly time flies by, my third child, second son is graduating high school on Friday and will be leaving for college in Minnesota in August. I’ll be down to one kid at home :( I’m so proud that he, like his brother and sister before him, is using his wings and not afraid to take flight.
Congrats to your daughter and family!
Got teary-eyed from reading your post. Very well said!
Aww, Kate;
thanks so for this lovely tribute to your precious “bonus” daughter…. my eyes filled as I read this…. and I too hope it will be included in her memory book…. she will certainly treasure it.
You’ve provided me so much DIY inspiration, laughter, and now, beautiful words only a mother’s heart can fathom completely. I have 3 sons, but God has blessed me with 2 ( so far) lovely daughter in laws, and 3 adorable grandgirls….. as well as 3 grand boys….. You truly spoke for all of us moms and g-moms…. How we wish we could hold time still……. but thankfully, pics and memories of these shared moments are there to remind us the gifts their lives are to us.
Here’s to continued love and laughter around the house!
:o( I have a 2 year old daughter and a 1 month old son and I look at my little girl and wonder how she got so big. She’s not a baby anymore and I feel like I can’t remember how it happened. If you find a way to stop time please make a tutorial for us. :o)
She’s so lovely – I loved reading this so much. I think the same about my son who’s about to turn 10 – it feels like yesterday his the baby boy in the high chair laugh and trying to talk :)
This made me CRY! Beautiful post. My oldest daughter just finished 2nd grade and my youngest is startng kindergarten. I can hardly believe how the time is flying by.
Thanks for sharing…! Love the gorgeous photos, too. What a beautiful young lady!
Oh my goodness. I got teary eyed too! And I’m only a college freshman. T___T You’re wonderful Ms. Kate.
This made me teary and I don’t even have kids! She is a lovely young woman.
Stop trying to make me cry. Just attended the Kindergarten reunion last night – all those kids are finishing eighth grade this week. It did seem like yesterday they were running together and now they are big and running together. Enjoy it all – they can’t go back to the small, snuggly stage. You try to get that eighth grader that is six feet tall in your lap. Funny – but he does still try!
I am going through the same thing. My youngest graduates from high school in 2 weeks and then off to college in three months . . . and then my husband and I will be staring at each other from across the dinner table wondering where the time went. It’s something I think about every day. I was so fortunate to be able to work from home while raising my kids, therefore allowing me to be there for almost every event – minor and major and everything in between. I stopped worrying about a messy house long ago. Two boys, two large dogs, lots of friends running in and out. Oh how I love the noise and activity. I will take the pandemonium any day over peace and quiet and clean.
Oh, what a beautiful post and a beautiful young lady! My oldest is off to his first summer camp Wednesday, and I’m struggling with knowing he is becoming a young man – not my little boy. So now I’m off to heed your advice and savor the moments my boys are young and at home!
The old song …. “You must have been a beautiful baby, because you turned into a beautiful girl” rings out loud and true for both of you! [not sure if those are correct words but point is the same]
What a great picture collage.
May her walk through life be filled with lush, green, sun-filled valleys, her climbs be on gentle slopes not sharp, rugged mountains and her moccasins always cushion her steps on the path of honor.
gentle hugs,
Brenda J.Moore
Oh, Kate! This is such a beautiful and touching post. I’ve had a horrid two weeks with family issues, and by family issues I mean my sister is the devil. It’s true. :)
So reading this lovely and meaninful post has brought happy tears to my very tired and sad eyes.
Your daughter is very lucky to have you for her mom.
I stopped by thru a different blog, BNOTP and just had to comment as I celebrated my youngest child’s graduation on Saturday as well. As I am reading your post and looking at the pictures it so hit home as to how fast those years have gone. I am very surprised that I wasnt more emotional on Saturday but we do the dinner/dance one night and the ceremony at the end of June. I am sure that will be the night reality hits me. So many memories, and so many missed opportunities that I can think of…I dont regret anything but wish I had more of a chance to do a few more things that financially werent possible at the time…My hope for her is that she lives her dreams and she has a wonderful life, however that presents itself…She knows I will always be there for my baby girl!! :)
I know what you’re saying. My firstborn son got married on the weekend. Talk about bitter/sweet moments!!! BTW, his wedding day was beautiful, with a beautiful bride, my first daughter!!
Oh my, you are going to make me cry!!!
Also, wanted to let you know I included you in today’s post. Hope that is okay… let me know if you are up for making root balls ;-)
http://simplifiedbee.blogspot.com/2010/06/recent-look-at-alameda-point-antiques.html
xo,
cristin
I am always viewing time as sand, slipping through my hands. It goes too quickly and I try my darnedest to stop it….but I can’t.
So I embrace it and slow down as best I can.
Beautiful post.
You totally tweaked my heart with this post. You’re in such a unique position to see the passage of time…with one leaving kindergarten and one graduating. Sigh.
My oldest just finished kindergarten and I have this deep desire to hold onto every possible moment of this summer. I know that I’ll blink my eyes and he’ll be going off to college. I get teary-eyed just thinking about it.
You’re step-daughter is so beautiful. I’m sure you’re crazy-proud.
That makes my heart hurt some. Definitely needed to be told to slow down. My baby is 4 and asked me yesterday when he will be 9. I’m not ready for 9!!
This is beautiful, so well written. And I feel the same way as a mother myself. You took the words right out of my mouth! That’s why I’m a scrapbooker, to preserve the memories because I know I won’t remember later. But sometimes I need a reminder, so thanks for giving me one.
Corinna
This was a beautiful post and brought tears to my eyes. You are really lucky and I hope someday when I have kids I can look back and feel this way too.