I say it often to moms in every stage of life. “Enjoy the moments.”
I can remember a time in my life when I wondered if “these” moments would ever end. If you’re a parent, you know the moments I’m talking about; the ones when it is hard to keep the kitchen floor clean, when your bed gets extra crowded at night because little people have wandered in, when the arguing and mess making seem to not have an end…In this season of life, it seemed that there were unending moments, hard moments…exhausting moments.
Have you ever thought, “If I could just go back in time, just for a day? If they could just be little again, so I could enjoy the moments instead of wishing them away?”
The moments pass so quickly. I’m thinking back to how exciting it was to find out that after three little boys being born in less than 4 years, we were going to have a little girl! That was a moment to remember!
But here we are, 18 years later, preparing to take her to college at the end of the week. In the past few months, I’ve read a zillion articles about taking your child to college, created Pinterest boards, and exchanged money with Amazon and Target more times than I’d like to admit. I’ve avoided the thoughts, I’ve cried the tears, I’ve denied that it’s happening and now the inevitable is unavoidable, so here’s what I’m doing…
I’m enjoying the moments.
Spending the day with her at the Words Conference for writers on Saturday and having sushi for lunch, sitting with her on Sunday at church, spur of the moment run to TJ Maxx, Ross, and Walmart today, treasuring the text she sent me a few days ago.
These are the moments I’m holding on to!
You’d think with her being the fourth child, we’d have experienced this already, that it would be easy to let go by now but her brothers didn’t walk down this “go away to college road” so we’ve never moved someone into a dorm before and SHE IS A GIRL, she’s my girl and my friend, so everything is different!
I’ll admit, I lost it in the car the other day listening to a country song. I’m guessing it won’t be the last time. I’ve loved being their mom. I’ve loved the changes that God has done in my heart as a result of the years we’ve spent parenting. I’ve loved the grace he’s grown in me because they have questioned my motives or conditions on certain topics- well, maybe not in the moment, but later! I’ve loved the late nights piled in our bed with a few teenagers and young adults, laughing or crying together. I’ve loved watching them learn to love each other as friends and not just siblings.
This week, I’m practicing Philippians 4:8. I love it from the Passion Translation: So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.
- i’ve had almost 18 years of sleeps and wake ups with her in our home
- she’s helped me grow as a mom, a woman, and a Christian possibly more than any other person in my life
- she effortlessly makes me laugh, and that’s one of my favorite things about her
- she’s tenacious and determined and isn’t afraid of a challenge
- i got to watch her twirl and dance and do ballet until she decided it just wasn’t her thing
- she will continue to shift into one of my closest friends over the next few years
- she’s brought unimaginable joy to my heart
- she has such an exciting and bright future and I don’t want the fact that I’m going to miss her to interfere with all of the excitement that she’s feeling this week
- she’s only going a few hours away. If I wake up one morning and want to go see her, I can
- she is excited about college, and I will be too
- her class schedule will allow her to have lots of long weekends at home
- she’s smart, independent, and very capable
- she loves Jesus and her daddy
- Josh is here, so I know she’ll be coming home–thanks, bud!
- she is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received.
“Enjoy the moments” still means the right now! I’m talking to me!
I don’t want to dwell on how great things were, how great they will be, but how great they are right now! Even if they are hard, they can be good!
….Am I going to cry? I am positive that I will…I started weeks ago! Will it be hard? Absolutely, for us and for her! Will it make us stronger? Yep, and that’s what we live for…His strength in our weakness.
Hold them tightly while you can, if only for a moment!
Alison Lapinsky 
❤️