In the Blink of an Eye...

One Worry Just Replaces Another...

So I’m sitting in Dunkin’ Donuts having a cup of coffee and I overhear two moms at the next table discussing about how hard it is sometimes to have toddlers. Oh they love them to death, don’t get me wrong, but the terrible twos are driving them crazy. I can tell from the conversation that these are their first children.  As I listen, I can’t help but chuckle to myself as I would give anything to have those days back. The days when your little one would snuggle up in your lap and give you the sweetest kisses. (Now its, "I can't talk." and "I'll see you later.") The worries and complaints these two moms are discussing seem so silly to me now. I just want to tell them to enjoy those years with all the craziness that comes with them, because those days are gone in the blink of an eye. The challenges we face as parents and the worries that go along with them just change as our kids get older, like, did they get the best 2nd grade teacher, are the school lunches healthy, are the other kids being nice to them, etc. To be quite honest, as I think back, every single one of those things seems ridiculous to me now, but they weren't at the time.  My kids are pretty much grown, 19 and 23. I used to think getting into a good college was the biggest challenge until I realized that it was just letting them go and allowing them to fly. And as you watch them leave your nest, the one you’ve kept them so protected in, you hope you’ve equipped them with the right tools to be the best people they can be. Tools like compassion, empathy, kindness mixed with strength, courage and fortitude. Today I wish my worries were about whether my child was eating the healthiest snacks or if they got invited to every birthday party. Today I worry about things like mass shootings and sexual assault... if my child will be at the wrong place at the wrong time or if someone will try and take advantage of them in some way. You never stop being a parent, you never stop worrying, the worries just change. I long for the old worries, the days of the two am visits, temper tantrums and terrible eating habits. It's gone in the blink of an eye.