"I need a box to pack my doll away," Sunbeam informed me quite cheerfully yesterday. I didn't feel as cheerful as I helped her select a nice box from the pile of empty boxes in the attic, the doll was wrapped in her favorite blanket and carefully tucked into the box and placed in the attic with the rest of the things that are no longer used, but we don't want to get rid of.
It had been quite a while since she had played with her doll, but I wasn't ready for this day. It's a little thing, but it reminded me how important it is to savor the little moments. Had I realized the last time she played with her doll would be the last time I would have watched her and cherished the moment.
Cleaning out a drawer in the bathroom vanity I found a few baubles the girls used to love wearing in their hair, another last had occurred without me being aware it was happening. Had I realized it was the last time I brushed and braided their long hair I would have slowed down and enjoyed it more.
They're growing up so fast, and trading in their dolls for sewing machines, and their little tea sets to baking delectable treats in the kitchen. It's bittersweet, but I don't want to become wrapped up in what used to be, that I miss out on all the great things of the present. So day by day, I want to savor the moments, because I never know when I'm enjoying a moment for the last time.
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Beautiful post, Mary Ann!
ReplyDeleteThank-you!
DeleteEvery little change in our children brings something new to enjoy. I am so glad God gave humans excellent memory and recall so we can go back and savor those wonderful moments. My children are probably about your age but, each time I find a little item they used when young, little memories come flooding back like a gift from heaven.
ReplyDeleteThis post made me think of your earlier one about your own growing-up days when your Aunt brought out her dolls and you were no longer keen to play. How is her health now? I often think of her.
Jenni
She is doing okay, though tires much easier than she did before her heart attack.
DeleteExactly MaryAnn! I'm always telling Mom's this. If I would have realized with my own children that many times I was watching their "lasts" I would have imprinted the moment on my brain. But...I can't go back so I go forward and try to savor each and every moment with my now grown children and my grandbabies. Precious times indeed.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
Very precious!
DeleteI only have one daughter and I felt quite sad last week when she informed me that she didn't play with her doll house anymore:( It's hard not to be sad and like you said they grow up way too fast. Thanks for a great post and reminding me to real savor every moment.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I'm happy seeing my children grow up and celebrate each new milestone, it always makes me sad when each stage of childhood is over.
DeleteDo savor each day very so slower......my kiddos were grown before I could turn around, so to speak! Now, the same is happening with my grandchildren :( Blessings friend
ReplyDeleteThere are times when I wish I could freeze time for a while!
DeleteI understand how this is. Just raising boys (3 of them) I had similar thoughts as they grew - cherishing the memory of the oldest as he practiced piano, the middle one as he played (alone) in the sandbox and pretended he was this or that character, acting it out with sand flying everywhere; and the youngest making up his own "light saber fighting contests" with the neighborhood kids - too funny! I loved their hide and seek in the dark games, too. I always thought it would be a sad day when the Legos got put away for the last time...but they didn't! :-) On occasion, a grown up man child can be found re-visiting the Big Lego Bucket!
ReplyDeleteI understand this one too well. My youngest is now 15. It was just a few years ago that she spent hours playing with her dolls. And just previos to that, she spent hours playing with her dollhouse. Every night when I tucked her into bed, she would say, "Mommy, in the morning, will you play dollhouse with me?" I did play dollhouse with her many times...but I wish I had done it even more times than I did.
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