Slice of Life: Give Them Stories 3 of 31
As I listened to their stories, I couldn't help but have one of those moments. You know the ones that catch you as you find yourself in the places of life that seem to make our rearview mirror bigger and the road ahead hard to see. Our youngest is nearing high school graduation and looking excitedly at the opportunities ahead in college. It's hard for me to believe, really. Didn't I just take her to kindergarten? Wasn't it yesterday I cheered for her team from the bleachers? Where did the days of homework at the table, friends on the weekend, and a calendar full of commitments go? How did we get from pigtails to hair color, from toys to car keys, from bedtime stories to curfew clock watching?
Looking back it's hard not to wish I would have been a little better about a million things. I wish I would have put things down to listen more. I wish I would have laughed more and worried less. I wish I would have been firmer about chores. I wish I would have been a better model of faith, kindness, and service to others. Though my parenting wasn't always perfect, I'm hoping that in the midst of my mistakes I have given my children the gift of stories; stories to carry them through their lives.
Life doesn't have a rewind button. My hope, however, is that life does have a record button. My hope is that in the midst of daily living I've helped my children to have stories. I hope they will remember the bedtime stories, the dinners together around our table in the evening, the family gatherings, the vacations we took, and the time we just enjoyed being together. It's the time when video games are turned off, the television is silent, and the world pauses for a minute that we squeeze in stories.
We must have posted within moments of each other! I started tearing up as soon as I saw the first photo! I love this line:
ReplyDelete"You know the ones that catch you as you find yourself in the places of life that seem to make our rearview mirror bigger and the road ahead hard to see."
Well written Mama! Well done indeed!
This senior year is a tough one, isn't it? Hang in there and keep hitting that pause button as much as you can!
Hugs,
Trish
This is absolutely beautiful and anything I would say would only diminish its beauty - so I won't!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful writing. I don't have any kids yet, but I hope to one day, and have all the stories to fill a book (or a blog...or just our memories!) Thank you for sharing! :-) Just lovely!
ReplyDeleteWell said! Writing does preserve a bit of life.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea that when the world pauses, the stories are shared. Stories are a gift we give our children and they sustain us all through the years.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely hope for your children, Cathy. I believe that's a part of what I had from my growing up, and it's been special all my life. Best of wishes to you in this new journey happening.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteCathy, so right there with you. Seems like you gave your kids the really important stuff. Such a beautiful piece of writing…
ReplyDeleteThe perfect parenting slice. I loved it, especially your last paragraph. Hold on to those memories, those stories...I'm trying to do the same!
ReplyDeleteWell said my daughter!!! You have given your children the best of stories to remember.. You have always been there for them!!
ReplyDeleteYour writing today made me feel very nostalgic. I love the idea of leaving my children with stories. Somehow I am sure that I have. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh Cathy....I know your kids and you have been a wonderful mother. I like your words about the rearview mirror bigger than the road ahead. Your family will have wonderful memories of growing up.
ReplyDeleteThat's beautiful! And by the way, my kids would love to have Aunt Cathy as their mom - you definitely do it right!
ReplyDeleteYour words and thoughts are beautiful. You have a wonderful family that has left you with many wonderful memories, rest assured you are passing this down to them.
ReplyDeleteI was teary reading it...
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