In the busy lives we lead, in the mad rush to get children out of the door (with socks and shoes on) and to school on time, in the dash to collect them and race to their swimming lesson next, to make sure dinner is ready on time, baths run, stories read, teeth brushed and prayers said. Oh, and just one more sip of water please. In all this rushing time can often run away from us and sweep us along in its unforgiving path.
It’s when the children are asleep and the house is quiet that time seems to slow down a little again, and I often find myself slowing down too. It’s then when I suddenly look at my children, really look at them. And I think to myself…what amazing creations we were blessed with. Two perfect little people, to care for, to mould, to have fun with, to enjoy. And yes, to get frustrated with, to make my hair turn grey, to wonder if I will ever sleep again, to wake up in the middle of the night to check if their blankets are still on. But to also laugh with about something that isn’t even that funny, to dance with as if no one is watching, and to just sometimes stare at their intoxicating beauty.
Tonight when your children are beginning new adventures in dreamland, just sit with them for a minute and look at the perfection that you were a part of creating. It may just give you a little more patience to deal with being a parent the next day, when you see that spark of independence flaring that actually comes from you, or that stubborn nature rearing up that you remember struggling with too when you were growing up.
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” Let’s create more moments to take our breath away, so that we make our number of breaths count.
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