In a recent encounter, my nearly-teenage son, Alex, strolled in after soccer practice, greeting me with an unexpectedly deep voice that momentarily caught me off guard. I found myself staring at him, a figure who, in many ways, felt unfamiliar. Gone was the bubbly, blonde child who once bounded through the door with a beaming smile and big hugs. Instead, I was met by a laid-back young man who entered the room with a relaxed, almost distracted demeanor. His smile is less frequent now, and it won’t be long before those striking blue eyes are looking down at me.
With each inch he grows, I’m acutely aware that he is also moving further away from my immediate grasp. However, I refuse to tally the remaining summers before he embarks on his own journey. I understand that many well-meaning individuals often remind parents to cherish their time with children, stating sentiments like, “Enjoy them while you can; they’ll be grown before you know it.”
While it’s true that parenting can sometimes overshadow the joys with frustrations, these constant reminders about the fleeting nature of childhood can create an urgency that detracts from truly savoring the moment. As each school year wraps up faster than the last, I keenly feel the rush toward adulthood and the pressure to slow it down. But in this relentless fight against time, I find myself drained, leaving little energy to appreciate the present.
I don’t want to foster resentment toward the natural progression of my children’s lives. More importantly, I don’t want to impede their growth. Their futures brim with promise, and I see it blossoming already. My hope is that when the final summer arrives, they will enthusiastically venture into the world, with no reservations about leaving me behind. Tears will undoubtedly flow, and my heart will ache, but I recognize that our bond will remain unbroken.
They will return, and one day, they will bring new faces—partners and grandchildren—into my life to embrace and love. Thus, I have decided not to dwell on the number of summers left but instead to relish each one as it arrives.
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In summary, I choose to embrace the present rather than dwell on the future, allowing the natural progression of my children’s lives without anxiety or regret.
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