What Will I Miss?

Parenting
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Picture if you will, I’m dropping my kids off at school, on the phone with a friend, I shout “Good bye!  I love you!” Then Ada shouts “Bye!  I will miss you!  Have a great day!”  Then the other 2 shout back to both of us… and my friend on the phone is just laughing.  I asked, “Don’t you miss this?”  She said, “Honestly… no.”  I don’t think I’ll miss the chaos of having a 5, 6, and 7 year-old.

But then when I dropped Ada off, she walked away doing her signature butt-wiggle waddle, waving without turning to look at me.  This is what I will miss.

So I got thinking about all the things I will and won’t miss.  Sort of like having a baby – you miss seeing that precious child for the very first time, but the back labor… not so much.  These are the days-long thoughts that give me perspective.  I decided I would share those thoughts with you… because, well, that’s what you do with a blog. 🙂

I won’t miss:

  • refereeing fights
  • repeating myself
  • reminding people to flush
  • preparing breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner day in and day out, only to hear at least one person complain about what I’ve made
  • stepping on Legos
  • pleading with Jesus for wisdom in how to parent at a specific moment, in a specific situation
  • dealing with the drama that encompasses my seven year-old daughter
  • being utterly mortified when my son attacks my daughter in public
  • and more I’ve probably blocked out
I will miss:
  • the way they belly laugh
  • watching Eli look out the window, deep in his thoughts
  • watching Eli try and try, then finally discover how something works, all on his own
  • the way Ada gently rubs my cheek to wake me up in the morning
  • the way Ada does that butt-wiggle waddle I was telling you about
  • when Ada gets in the car after school and asks “Did you hadded a good day?”
  • when Grace figures out a song on the piano by ear, all on her own
  • the way their entire bodies and Wii remotes move when playing a game – because that helps
  • their oh-so-honest prayers at the dinner table

I love these Littles.  I’m working so very hard on parenting with intention.  (Feel free to keep me accountable on that one.)   I want to raise adults that love God and His people.  This is my mission in life.  In the moments that I will block out for my own sanity, I need God to bring the moments I will miss to the forefront of my mind.

    3 thoughts on “What Will I Miss?”

    1. Ok, first… my guess is that you were talking with Sheri on the phone. 🙂

      Next… remain focused on the things you WILL miss. They'll be gone before we know it. And even when they're older, we're still going to be dealing with struggles, just different ones. So… cherish each day. I'm trying my best right along with you – to never wish away NOW! They really are precious years. 🙂

    2. You're an awesome mom and wife! This is a great reminder that we need to maintain a long term perspective in our day to day parenting. This is just as applicable to the dads out there reading your blog. Great post!

    3. I love this Janna. Even being aware of what you will miss, while not feeling guilty about the things you wont miss, makes your parenting intentional. Snapping mental pictures in those moments and soaking in them – if even for the second they are there will keep it fresh for later. When we know the things we will miss, I think we take them in a little deeper.

      Love your blog.

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