The Golden Years

Thoughts are funny things.  Sometimes they gently come whispering, teasing around your brain.  Other times, they come and wallop you on the side of the head! LOL  You know what I'm talking about.  A moment of epiphany.  An "aha" moment.

I had one of those tonight.  A vision with unmistakable clarity that, right now, the age my children are at, could be called our "Golden Years".

I had 4 kids in 5 years.  Those early years are just a blur.  All the kids needed me all the time for everything.  Loved it then and I often miss those early days and would love to go back and do it all over again.  #5 came along when I had an 8, 6, 4 and 2 year old.  Still a lot of work, but things were easing up a little bit.  #6 came when I had an 11, 9, 7, 5 and almost 3 year old.  What a difference!  I had independent kids.  I had kids who could pick up after themselves, hold a baby and if need be, make a meal for themselves or a sibling.  They could all use the bathroom w/o assistance (except the baby of course ;) ), which sounds silly but is HUGE. LOL

The road looming right ahead of me that I can see in the distance but not quite touch, is the windy, rolling hills of adolescence.  We haven't hit that yet but are oh so close.  We have a little bit of the preteen attitude, but honestly, it's not that bad.  She still listens to us, she still takes what we have to say and does it, eventually. ;)

The road ahead is an unknown.  With 6 children getting ready to hit that road you can be sure that we will hit those emotional highs and lows quite a few times in the next 18 years.

That's why I'm saying right now, these are the golden years of my life with my children.  As they continue to get older, and they keep doing that despite me telling them to stop, they are going to stretch and grow and move on.   Yes, I am looking forward to seeing who they become and pray for their futures but for now, for this brief, fleeting moment in time, I am going to stop and really live in this season.  I'm going to soak up every ounce of these special years, our golden years.  I'm going to tuck these special days into my heart and hold them there to look back on and remember a time when my children still called me Mommy, held my hand when we walk places and just wanted to hang out with me.  Where snuggles in bed are a must, mushes and hugs are given and received with great joy.

These are our golden years and I'm not going to waste them.