I noticed you at the park today. The weather was simply delightful, coaxing you to take your little one outside. You were seated on the merry-go-round—not spinning, just enjoying the stillness. Your gaze flickered over to your other child, who was blissfully swinging from the monkey bars, while you sat with what appeared to be a 2 ½-year-old. In your quiet reverie, a whirlwind of thoughts raced through your mind—lists of tasks, grocery items, and plans for the day and beyond. You gently wiped your child’s nose, offered her a snack and a drink, and then stared off into the distance, lost in thought.
I observed this scene unfold, a seemingly routine moment of motherhood on an ordinary afternoon, and felt a strong urge to tell you something—one crucial piece of advice. If I didn’t fear being perceived as an odd stranger lurking at the playground, I would have approached you and said: Freeze this moment.
Just freeze it. Set aside the lists, the schedules, and the pressures of the future. Like unwelcome cobwebs, push those thoughts aside and prioritize this moment. Make sure to store a special place in your memory for these everyday occurrences. Snap a mental photograph right now.
Take a good look at that toddler. Look closely and remember the sweet curve of her rosy lips and the delightful giggles that escape her. Recall the fine strands of hair you just tucked behind her ears and the warmth of her acceptance. Notice the tiny teeth that peek out when she munches on a Cheerio and the chubby fingers gripping her sippy cup. Memorize those long eyelashes and round cheeks, along with the way she gazes at you as if you are her entire universe, which, indeed, you are.
Cherish this moment of simplicity, giving it the utmost importance. Because years down the line, that toddler will engage in conversations about dorm room essentials, graduation attire, career paths, and current events. It will be another ordinary day with your teenager, but as they chat, you will find yourself desperately rummaging through your memory for that moment on the merry-go-round, sharing Goldfish and juice on a typical day.
Lately, I find myself reflecting more on my past, trying to recall those ordinary toddler days and the delightful features of my son—his plump cheeks and tiny teeth. I yearn to vividly remember his fine blond hair and cherubic face, his smooth skin, and the silly one-word requests he used to make. Often, I catch fleeting glimpses of him as a cheerful 2-year-old, but they vanish as quickly as they arrive.
I ponder what I was thinking back during those early days of motherhood while we sat together at the park. I don’t wish to relive those times, as the desire for more children has long passed, and I embrace my son’s growth as part of life’s journey. However, I do wish I had captured more of those ordinary moments. I wish I had pushed aside trivial thoughts to focus more on what really mattered.
As I watch your everyday moment unfold from a distance, my hope for you is that you see it for the extraordinary experience it truly is. Freeze it. Capture it mentally. Save it. Highlight it. Place it in a sacred corner of your mind, for I guarantee you will seek it in the future, and I want you to be able to find it easily.
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Summary:
In the hustle of parenthood, it’s vital to pause and appreciate the seemingly mundane moments that shape our lives. These fleeting instances, filled with love and joy, deserve to be preserved in our memories, as they will one day become cherished reflections of childhood. By focusing on these extraordinary occurrences, we can create a lasting impact on our lives and our children’s lives.
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