WHEN RAISING CHILDREN...

...The days are long, but the years are short.

Oh my word... and how I have had this message rammed home in the past week. Firstly, who does this gorgeous big boy belong to?

Surely, it can't be me. Because wasn't it just yesterday that I brought my baby boy home from hospital? It was... it really was.... just yesterday! *sigh*.. where has the time gone?

Next year, my big boy moves into the Boys Prep School. We (the parents) had our introductory talk to the Prep school on Thursday evening. On the one hand, I was absolutely blown away by how lucky our children are to go to such an awesome school.... and on the other hand, I was a bit gobsmacked at what a mans-world the Prep school will be. Surely my baby could not cope in such a mans environment? And then I came home from the talk and looked at my boy.... and really looked and listened. And yes... he is ready. It's me who's not! The Junior Prep is verrrry different to the boys prep.... and I fear that I will do a lot of growing up with my boy next year, as he morphs into one of those awesome prep school boys.

The headmaster gave a speech which really struck a chord with me. He focused his speech on a certain boy (now on the brink of man-hood) This boy has just been made Head boy for St Stithians College for 2012. He came up through the Prep school, hence the focus on him. The headmaster showed a class photo of the boy when he was in Gr 3 at the Prep school. And he said " This is him in Gr 3, when he started at St Stithians Boys Prep in 2003".... and then it struck me. 2003 - thats 8 years ago. 2003 is the year my son WAS BORN. And I cant quite fathom how we've got from 2003 to 2011 and I suddenly have an 8 yr old!!! Well... I better brace myself, because spin forward another 8 years and I will have a Gr 12 MAN in my house, in his last year of school! And if the last 8 years are anything to go by, .. then I  am literally going to blink... and we'll be there. WOW.

So - I guess my message is this: Savour these days, even the verrry long ones (wine helps ;)), because the years flash by and before we know it, we'll have empty nests :( And I'm thinking the wine may not be so comforting then.... the silence will be deafening though :)

Comments

[Lynette]

Oh, your little man is so very handsome...and growing up so fast. It feels as if I had my boys just yesterday and today they are fathers themselves. You are so right to savour these days...they past much too soon.

[cat@juggling act]

Oh gosh, so very very true! I am still stunned to have a grade 1 next year. Oh and that boy is so handsome.

[Jo]

...I am feeling it already. Scott works most weekends and gets home exhausted from school in the week at around 6pm so we hardly see him. Erin is up in her room most of the time so yes enjoy them whilst they are still little xxx PS please update us on Luke thanks x

[Gill]

This post struck such a chord with me! I'm feeling this exact same thing because my baby girl is getting married a week on Saturday! How the hell did that happen??? I wish I had realised when I brought her home from the hospital how VERY short a time I would have her living under my roof.... then perhaps I would have savoured each day a little more, worried less about the inconsequential stuff and focused more on just loving her, cuddling her, BEING with her! 12 more days with her living at home and BOY am I trying to make them count!