“Enjoy every moment,” a friendly woman behind me in line at Target said, “It all passes so quickly.” It’s a sentiment I’ve heard before.
“It will be over before you know it.” “They grow up so fast; in a heartbeat, she’ll be a teenager.” “One day you’ll wake up, and she’ll be getting married.”
Honestly, if I had a burrito for every time someone felt the need to remind me to cherish each second of motherhood, I’d be utterly stuffed and probably regretting my life choices. And if you’re a parent, I’m sure you’ve experienced similar unsolicited advice.
For a long time, these sayings made me want to roll my eyes or even lash out. They often came at the most inconvenient moments—like when I was deep in my to-do list, trying to keep my 15-month-old entertained in the shopping cart with a cracker I’d snagged from the shelf, while dodging the owl mugs on display.
Other times, I’d be frantically juggling a tired toddler under my arm, mismatched socks, and a frazzled look, only to hear those well-meaning words as I rushed to the exit. It felt like they were watching me struggle and trying to comfort me with their “you’ll miss this someday” platitudes.
I often wanted to respond, “What are you suggesting? That I’m not fully soaking in every single second with my child?” Instead, I’d plaster on a polite smile and mutter something like, “Oh, absolutely!” before making a hasty exit to the car, hoping to avoid a toddler meltdown.
But now, I get it. Those comments have little to do with me and everything to do with their own experiences.
Just last night, as I cuddled with my now 19-month-old daughter, she went through her goodnight routine: “Night night Elmo; night night Abby; night night Dada…” and the list went on. It made me reflect on the past few days.
Her vocabulary is exploding—three new words every day, and she’s begging us to recite the alphabet. It’s mind-boggling. But let’s be real; it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There have been challenging moments, too—like that exhausting first week of breastfeeding, endless “witching hours,” postpartum anxiety, and yes, tantrums. It’s been a rollercoaster ride, where I brace for the next drop, both excited and terrified.
Didn’t I just endure a grueling 36 hours of labor only to see my little girl, blue and lifeless at first? Didn’t I just feel overwhelming joy as she was placed on my chest, skin pink and perfect? Didn’t I just weep because all the cute outfits I brought for her were too big? It feels like those moments happened just seconds ago.
That’s what the woman in Target is reminiscing about as she watches my little one try to stand in the cart, mesmerized by bubbles. She’s reflecting on her own past—those moments of joy, struggle, and bittersweet nostalgia. She’s reminding me of the fleeting nature of motherhood, wishing she had savored it more herself.
Kids grow up at lightning speed. They outgrow everything before you can blink. One moment they’re babies, and the next, they’re gaming teens. I get it now; she’s feeling nostalgic, thrilled for me, and maybe even a bit envious as she remembers her own wild ride through motherhood.
So, the next time someone tells me to “savor every moment because it goes by so fast,” I’ll genuinely smile and say, “Thank you. I absolutely will.”
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Summary
Motherhood is a rollercoaster of emotions filled with both joy and challenges. As children grow, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind, but reflecting on the fleeting moments reminds us to cherish each stage.