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They Grow Up So Fast
Updated: Dec. 13, 2023
Originally Published: Dec. 13, 2023
“Enjoy every moment,” the woman behind me in line at the grocery store remarks, “it all goes by so quickly.”
This isn’t the first time I’ve heard such sentiments.
- “It’ll be over before you know it.”
- “They grow up in a blink.”
- “One day you’ll wake up, and she’ll be getting married.”
Honestly, if I had a burrito for every person who felt the need to remind me to cherish each moment as a parent, I’d be uncomfortably full and quite stinky—I’ve heard this so many times! If you’re a parent, you probably have too.
For a long stretch, comments like these made me want to snap. They often come at the most inconvenient times—like when I’m juggling my 16-month-old in a shopping cart, trying to distract her from the shiny owl mugs with a cracker I managed to grab from the shelf.
Sometimes they pop up when I’m clearly frazzled and weary, mismatched socks and tangled hair, with a hefty toddler on the verge of slipping from my grasp as I rush to the car. And while I’m caught in this chaotic moment, someone feels the need to say, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone,” as if their words are somehow comforting.
In those moments, I’ve felt the urge to retort, “What are you suggesting? That I don’t treasure every second with my child?” Instead, I offer a hasty, insincere response like, “Oh, for sure! Totally!” just to escape before a meltdown ensues.
But now, I get it.
I realize these comments are less about me and my parenting and more about their own experiences and feelings.
Tonight, as I cuddled with my baby girl—now a spirited 19-month-old—she began her nightly ritual of saying goodnight to everything in sight: “Night night Elmo; night night Abby; night night Henry; night night Dada; night night owl; night night grandma…” and the list goes on. I paused to reflect on the past few days.
There’s been an explosion of language, a surge of emotional expression, with at least three new words daily. She’s begging us to recite the alphabet and stringing together phrases that are mind-boggling.
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows either. There have been plenty of tough moments—the early days of breastfeeding, the seemingly endless witching hour, postpartum anxiety, and the guilt that often accompanies motherhood. And now, we’re navigating tantrums. Not exactly a walk in the park.
All the moments, both joyful and challenging, from mastering the swaddle to her first words, have occurred in what feels like the blink of an eye. It’s like I’m on this exhilarating yet terrifying roller coaster, bracing myself for the next drop while simultaneously hoping it never comes. Because, as they say, “It goes by soooo fast.”
And it genuinely does.
Mia Thompson
Didn’t I just endure the most grueling 36 hours of labor, only to see my baby girl, blue and lifeless, whisked away for suctioning until she finally cried out?
Didn’t I just feel an overwhelming wave of happiness when she was placed on my chest, pink and perfect, mere moments after that bruised beginning?
Didn’t I just weep at the hospital because all the “first” outfits I brought for her were too big, and I wanted her to “look cute” for the ride home?
Didn’t I just feel the exhaustion and pain of post-birth recovery, mixed with an all-consuming parental love that felt like it might overflow?
Didn’t that all just transpire mere seconds ago?
That’s exactly what the woman in the grocery store is experiencing as she watches my round-faced toddler try to stand up in a moving cart—because bubbles.
She’s reminiscing about her own experiences while observing mine. She’s reflecting on her own journey, the first moments, the challenging times, the distractions that might have caused her to miss something significant, and the joys that brought her to tears. She’s thinking about her child, who may no longer be a baby. She’s contemplating all the experiences I have yet to encounter.
Her comments are a way of sharing what she wishes she had embraced more fully. Kids grow up overnight. They outgrow everything right after you buy it. They transition from newborns to tech-savvy tweens in what feels like hours, even when it seems like they’ll never walk, talk, or reach those milestones. They grow up so fast.
She’s nostalgic and a little envious, yet genuinely happy for me, because she’s been on that same wild ride. The phase of motherhood that I’m in is behind her, and she misses it.
So, the next time someone tells me, “Before you know it, she’ll be getting her driver’s license. Cherish every moment,” I’ll smile sincerely and reply, “Thank you. I truly will.”
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Summary
In this heartfelt reflection, Mia Thompson shares her thoughts on the fleeting nature of childhood and the bittersweet comments from others about savoring every moment of motherhood. She recounts the rapid developments in her child’s language and emotional expression, while also acknowledging the challenges of parenting. Ultimately, Mia embraces the journey, recognizing that even amidst the chaos, every moment is precious.
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