Wishing My Life Away

I’m boycotting Walmart. And Target, Shopko, Walgreens, Toys R Us, plus that aisle in the grocery store that stocks the crayons. Not forever—just until August. Why? Because last week, I went shopping for half-price sparklers and found the shelves packed with school supplies.

Back to school sales? Already? Please, let my kids have their summer! Let me have this summer—with my kids.

It’s a kindergarten thing, see. In less than two months, my firstborn starts full-day school, and I’m having heart palpitations just thinking about it. I want to hold her ransom, splashing through the sprinkler and slurping popsicles like tomorrow will never come.

I didn’t always feel this way. There was a time when I wished ahead, longed for my girls to grow, to get past a rough stage, to sleep—oh glorious sleep! I reached toward the promise of easier days, and in so doing, I missed living the day I was given.

“This is the day the LORD has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it,” (Psalm 118:24).

Do you ever add words to that verse? Sure, Lord, I’ll rejoice and be glad—as soon as the baby is sleeping through the night.

After those teeth poke through.

When she can hold her own spoon.

Once tantrums are a thing of the past.

Then soon enough, they are. But so are five years of beautiful childhood, which I’ll never get back. I want to learn the art of living in the moment before it’s too late. Before my girls wave goodbye from a college parking lot—at their sappy mother whose heart will burst into a sobbing mess as soon as our empty minivan turns the corner.

This is the day the Lord has made—yes, even this one. So I will rejoice and be glad in it.

All of it.

The laughter and the tantrums, the stinky diapers and the bubble baths, the bickering and blanket fort camping in the playroom.

I’m done wishing my life away. Let me have my summer, store people. Your pencils and glue sticks can wait. This family is still on popsicle time.


If this post encouraged you, please pass it on. You might also like Birthday Musings From a Sappy Mom, Taste of Candy Land, Don’t Lie to Me, and On Dreams, Contentment and Spaghetti.

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Linking up with: The Better Mom, Titus 2sdays, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Living Well Wednesdays, Things I Can't Say, Grace at Home, Proverbs 31 Thursdays, and Faithfully Parenting Fridays.