By Jude Goodwin
Published: May 6, 2015
I remember standing outside my youngest daughter’s school one morning and thinking “I will be standing here for another 8 years, every morning.” And because she was my youngest and a late in life baby, I immediately followed that up with “It will pass in a blink of time, enjoy it fully, don’t miss a single moment.”
And when I stood, an anonymous clapper in an ice rink full of people, and watched her walk across the stage at her graduation I understood profoundly that those days had come to an end. Those days, with their cares and worries and joys and loves, can seem like forever at 2 in the morning whether you’re nursing a fussy baby or waiting for someone to text that they’re ok and on their way home. But the stark truth is – they’re not forever.
When I held this last newborn in my arms I was determined to make every moment endure. But time is a thief. Or an artist, constantly sculpting and resculpting our lives into something new. Today I have three grown daughters and 5 grandkids. My heart is full – but I’ll always miss the times when they were young.
