Days at home with toddlers are a lot of fun and can be a total whirlwind! I have been home with my kids (working a couple part time jobs) since my second child was born and my oldest was only 19 months old. These last two, almost three, years have been a period of adjustment for me. I never thought I would be able to be home with them, and it’s been a dream come true. Child care costs made quitting corporate America an easy decision, and luckily I wanted to be home with my babies and cherish the things I’ll miss when my kids are bigger!
I wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of the many ways my kids make me laugh, and the cute and funny things they do and say — things that I want to remember forever. Here are just a handful of things I’ll miss when my kids are bigger:
Things I’ll Miss When My Kids Are Bigger
The way my kisses make their booboos — including the non-existent ones — better instantly.
The sound of my children’s laughter! I love when they are laughing so hard, especially when it’s because of something that I did! I wish I could keep that magnificent sound in a jar!
The way my kids are so proud if they sleep ALL night in their beds — and they have to shout out their accomplishment the next morning.
The way my son says, “Anybody home?” when he hops out of bed and walks out of his bedroom each morning.
I love the gusto behind my kids’ greeting when I arrive home from being gone. They jump, squeal with laughter, and smother me with hugs and kisses – even if I’ve only been to the grocery store. Talk about making me feel loved!
The way their eyes light up when I ask them if they want to go to the park!
All of the adorable things they say: my daughter asks me for “toot snaps” which are really fruit snacks. She still doesn’t believe that “Winnie the Pooh” is that bear’s real name (she thinks I am kidding with the word “poo”). My son used to ask for “Rice Christmas Trees” instead of “rice crispy treats.” My daughter calls any swing set a “playground.” For example, we have a swing set boxed in our garage that we are getting ready to assemble. She told me she “can’t wait to have a playground in our backyard.”
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| My kids posing for a quick picture before going to the park! |
The never-ending presence of Toy Story. My son is OBSESSED with Toy Story. He’s practically a real, live Andy. He loves all the movies, has toy versions of all of the toys. He even carries Woody around on his shoulders like Andy does in the opening scene in Toy Story 1.
Spending so much time with them! I will be the first to admit my patience is tested on a daily basis. However, I have absolutely loved being with them during these first years of their lives! Someday when they are in school full-time, I know the very memories we are making every single day at the playground, the zoo and here in our home playing games and hide and seek will be ones that I look back on and remember with a smile (and a tear!).
Their hugs and sweet kisses! I love when my kids come at me with their arms outstretched, eager to snuggle up to me and bury their faces in my neck. I love wrapping them in my arms and, for an instant, feeling like I can protect them from this crazy world.
Seeing them learn something new. It’s the role of parents to support our children and help them learn new things. We as parents will always get to experience this since kids never stop learning, but I do think there is something really special about watching little ones take their first steps, learn how to sing their ABC’s and figure out how to jump and dance and skip. Seeing their little eyes grow wide and hearing them say, “I did it!” makes my heart so happy.
The old saying is so true: The days are long but the years are short. As my daughter is less than a month from turning three and my son just a few months from turning five, I am realizing this holds true more and more with each passing minute. I’m making sure I focus on truly enjoying each and every day and viewing it as a gift. Our kids are always our kids, but they are only this small for such a short period of time. I want to live in the moment and not let these days slip away!
These are the things I’ll miss when my kids are bigger but what will you miss the most about having little ones at home? What do your kids do or say that you will cherish?
Tags: children
