Updated: November 1, 2018
Originally Published: March 30, 2013
A few nights ago, I stumbled upon an article from a parenting guide titled, “How To Enjoy More Quality Time With Your Child.” The author, Dr. Johnson, suggests that instead of stressing over how much time you spend with your family, it’s far more beneficial to concentrate on creating meaningful and memorable moments together.
It seemed Dr. Johnson and I were on the same wavelength when it comes to parenting, so I kept reading. Little did I know, I was about to encounter a revelation that hit me harder than finding a rogue sock under the couch or discovering the contents of a forgotten snack cup left too long in the car.
Halfway through the article, I felt my heart race as I read, “There are only 940 Saturdays from the moment your child is born until they leave for college. Sounds like a lot, right? But if your child is 5, you’ve already lost 260 Saturdays. Just like that!”
Wait a minute, Dr. Johnson. Are you telling me that I only have 680 Saturdays left with my youngest? The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, especially since the example he used was a little girl, making it feel all too personal.
As I continued reading, I noticed tears welling up. The article mentioned, “Imagine their messy bedrooms now neat and empty. Picture the backseat of your car devoid of crumbs and toys…” This imagery swept me into a tidal wave of emotions. I couldn’t bear the thought of my car not being cluttered with remnants of their childhood, like a long-lost snack or a beloved toy that we thought we had lost at the beach two summers ago.
I realized I was overlooking the positive message of the piece. It was shocking to come to terms with the fact that time is limited, and I had been living as if there were an endless supply of Saturdays.
I mentally kicked myself for not being more aware of my “time card” with my kids. It felt like I had squandered precious moments, wallowing in the chaos of dirty laundry and sleepless nights. I imagined a stern sales manager of “Time With Your Kids” shaking her head at me, saying, “I’m sorry, but you’ve already used up 260 Saturdays. No refunds for lost time!”
As I sobbed on the couch, my husband looked at me with a mix of concern and confusion. How was I going to explain this time deficit for our youngest child? But before I could say anything, my older daughter wandered in, bleary-eyed and looking like an adorable mess, and uttered the three words I had never wanted to hear at 10 p.m.: “I can’t sleep.”
In that moment, I sprung into action, not even hesitating to debate with my husband about who would tuck her in. Instead, it felt like a gift giving me a chance to reclaim some time. As I lay next to her, rubbing her tummy like I used to when she was a baby, I wondered how many of those moments I had left.
Soon enough, she drifted off to sleep, and I studied her peaceful face. I was reminded that time is fleeting, and before I knew it, she’d be off to college, living her life in ways I could hardly imagine.
The next day, I found myself ruminating on our “time card.” How many more episodes of our favorite shows would we enjoy together? How many times would I hear her strumming her ukulele before she decided she was too cool for that?
While this newfound awareness was bringing some positive changes in my life, it was also making me feel sad. I needed to shift my focus back to enjoying the present. After all, each moment, even the messy ones, is a gift.
I realized that soon enough, I would stand in her room, and it would be clean and quiet. There would be no more colorful clothes strewn about or toys begging for attention. I would cherish the moments I had, not just the joyful ones but also the chaotic ones, because both are part of the beautiful journey.
This was Saturday #286—the day I truly understood the value of time, both in moments of frustration and joy. It taught me to appreciate the small things, like when my daughter still holds my hand while crossing the street or asks me to look at a ladybug.
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Summary:
In this reflective piece, Chloe Matthews grapples with the fleeting nature of time with her children after reading an eye-opening article. The realization that there are only a limited number of Saturdays before her kids grow up prompts deep emotional responses. Ultimately, she learns to cherish every moment, both the joyful and the chaotic, as integral parts of motherhood.