“But people themselves alter so much, that there is something new to be observed in them for ever.” – Pride and Prejudice
When you’re a child, you dream of the day you will grow up and become an adult. In adulthood you long for the days when you were a child. It’s amazing how difficult it really is to live in the “now” – appreciating who we are in this moment. As human beings we are in this weird “state of constant change” – changing little by little everyday – even though the change is basically unrecognizable from one day to the next.
It’s easiest for us to recognize change in our twin boys. The changes babies undergo in that first year are drastic to say the least – going from totally and utterly dependent on you to independently walking and talking.
Change becomes less obvious as your children grow older. You really only stop to think about how much they’ve changed a few times a year – maybe on their birthday or at this time of year – the first day of school. It’s at these times that you sit down and think about the little baby you once held in your arms, and realize how far they’ve come, how much they’ve really grown.
It’s hardest to recognize change in your spouse and in yourself. Change seems to spring up out of no where. I’ll catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror as I’m getting out of the shower and wonder where that extra lump, bump or wobbly bit has come from. Caleb will come home from jumping into a pick-up hockey game and end up spending his evening icing his shoulder or his knee, bone-tired. We’re left trying to pinpoint WHEN it all changed.
One of the only things you can count on in life – is that things will change. People will change. Circumstances will change. All we can do – is control how we react to the changes that inevitably come our way. Easier said than done.
This past weekend – the last weekend of our summer together – our family took a little time out to get to know each other again and observe the “something new” we had forgotten to keep noticing.
Caleb and I, with the help of our fabulous babysitters, took an adult-only time out and re-discovered / decided we still liked who we have turned into.
Then, in turn, we spent some time focused on our big kids. Caleb took Hailey on a “date” complete with rollerskating and milkshakes, while I took Zach out on the town, watched him bowl over 100 and celebrated his victory with frozen yogurt.
There is definitely something to be said about 1-on-1 time with my kids – a great reminder as to how unbelievably cool they are and continue to be.
My kids are undoubtedly the funniest people I know. They’re thoughtful, kind-hearted and worth every second of my time; actually – they’re worth more. I am loving the front-row seat I managed to come by – and am gearing up for all of the “something new” ‘s left for me to watch and enjoy.
serendipity.six 