Thematic Photographic #302 Temporary
Since I have been spending so much time with my adult daughter and my grandsons I have also been pondering on how fast life goes by and how little time we have with these precious souls when they are young and innocent. Having raised 6 kids with a 16 year gap from first to last; I spent a LOT of years with small children in the house, but looking back on it now, it seems to be such a short time. Even the 20+ years with teenagers in the house seems a short time. Now time flies with the grandchildren. Every year when I come back I see how much my grandsons have grown. I regret that I have not been able to spend as much time with the other grandkids.
Everywhere I go and I tell people that I spend my summer with my daughter and help her with her kids; their first reply is usually "Isn't it so nice to spend so much time with your grandchildren?" or something similar. I have to say that it is also wonderful and a rare privilege to be able to get to know my daughter on a day to day basis as a grown adult. If they live close most grandmas may help with the grandkids but, I believe it is kind of rare for them to pack up, move and stay for months and this makes for a totally different experience. I have been confronted head on with both the good and the bad that I did as a parent. I knew that parenting traits were passed on from generation to generation because when my kids were young and having sworn I would never raise my kids like my parents raised me, I still found myself saying
"How did my mother get in my mouth?". Living with Laura and watching her with her boys I get a much different perspective on my parenting, a lot more regrets but also a lot more joy in the kids that I raised and their accomplishments. I'm kind of surprised with how much as people up here get to know me, they can, if they are smart and observant, get to understand and know Laura better.
There is one rule that none of the kids or grandchildren were not able to obey and that was their Daddy's and Grandpa's admonition to stay little. Oh why, oh why? Well the why is because they need to grow into their own person that we only see as they mature. Those same sweet souls that we started with can if both sides work at it develop into sweet adult relationships.
I now know that I need to cherish these times with my kids and grandchildren because each stage of life is temporary and precious and we only get one chance to enjoy and savor these moments.
Enjoy
them while you can
Johnina
4 comments:
A lovely post. As a grandparent of a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old I can really relate to your comments - thank you.
Thank you Alexia- That's what I like most about blogging sharing thoughts and feelings and the comradery that it builds
The boys look like they're having so much fun! Yes, reality is fleeting, sometimes too much so.
I'm glad you took my Mormon posts in good humour, as they were meant to be. It is true that I like all the Mormons I've ever met and you are part of that!
Very cute!
And wise thoughts, too.
~
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