For some reason, I am reminded now of new life and of growth. The young trees are a little taller and my flowers have sprouted and are growing tall. The fresh growth reminds me that my children are also growing. The height marks on the back of my laundry room door are staggered in succession, marking the years’ steady marching on. All my children are growing up – some a bit faster than others – and all of them too quickly; but this month’s article is a reflection of what I see happening with my youngest.
Sadie-Rae is five now and she seems to have a growth spurt every other day. She becomes more and more capable to do things on her own with each passing day, as well. She is tying her shoes and needs less help with her chores. We realized over the holidays that she can reach the bathroom faucets without a stool and those large and small motor skills are developing more and more.
But it’s not just physically that Sadie-Rae is growing. She is counting and doing math problems like crazy. She even told me as I was tucking her in tonight that she was going to count to 1000 before she fell asleep. She has also started reading and she brought her first book home from preschool. (This is a huge deal at the Montessori school she attends, and with her family, since we all love to read!)
Sadie-Rae is also growing in attitude, LOL. But seriously, she has become a bit sassy, knows she is cute, and is testing the waters when it comes to obedience. She may just rule the world one day if her personality continues to grow.
All this growing Sadie-Rae is doing is bittersweet for me. I’m excited to watch her grow into who she’s meant to be, but I’m also mourning the fact that she is growing up so fast.
She is, after all, my baby – the youngest of the four children. Life is busy and time a thief and I feel like Sadie-Rae’s childhood is slipping through my outstretched fingers. I yearn to hold and rock the little baby she used to be, but Sadie-Rae can’t even sit still long enough to stay in my lap and cuddle for five minutes. I miss the period when she wanted only me all the time; now I’m chopped liver and usually only the choice when I’m not even home.
At the same time, it is glorious that Sadie-Rae can brush her own teeth and wipe her own butt. (The fact that she is more capable of so many things really helps with the busy phase of life I’m in with the bigger kids.) I love to watch her succeed at all the new things she is trying.
If I take the time to really sit back and observe her, I get to see all the wonder and excitement Sadie-Rae has as she is reading, writing, or even playing. Watching her learn and enjoy learning, and experiencing the world, brings me great joy. It also reminds me of when her siblings were little and how much fun that was, too.
I guess I’m feeling a bit nostalgic about the kids – especially with one graduating high school soon. It makes me want to hold onto every second I have with Sadie-Rae. I know how quickly the time passes. These precious moments are fleeting so I’m trying to soak them all in.
It is a gift to get to watch our children grow. If we pay attention, we can even learn a thing or two along the journey. Children have a wonder that we often leave behind us as adults. They also love unconditionally; something we adults don’t always know how to do. The time we spend with them is also a gift. The days can often be long, but the years are short, so if you are in this stage of parenting, try to enjoy it. Trust me, it doesn’t last long before the toys are shelved, the TV doesn’t play repeat on “Bluey,” and Mom and Dad are no longer the coolest playmates ever. Cherish every second and store up every memory you can, because before long you’ll be sending them off to college.
-by Kari Carr
About the Author: Kari doesn’t claim to be a parenting expert, just a mom to her four wonderful children and wife to the love of her life, Mike. Together they move through the ups and downs of raising kids in this crazy world. She struggles through the trials and joys of raising children from the ages of two to 16 years old. Kari received her degree at WKU and taught public middle school music and choir for seven years before opening her own business, Sound Beginnings Musikgarten & Vocal Studio. She lives and works in Bowling Green.
