These Are The Good Old Days
These Are The Good Old Days
Just the other day I was entangled on the sofa with a boy-man I had never quite seen before. He had the face of my child but everything else had changed. He was laying in his bathrobe watching tv and must have lost track of how cool he was for just a few minutes. The easy affection was reminiscent of the young boy I once knew. It was familiar and strange and perfectly welcome.
He had wiry limbs sprouting from every direction.
His legs were lanky and long.
He had the ears and nose of a man.
The temperament of a housebound puppy.
The appetite of a bear.
His eyes were sharp and blue.
His hair askew.
His voice was lower, and shoulders wide.
His heart was that of a child.
He was a suspended moment in time.
There’s a quote. ‘I wish there was a way to know that you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.’
Those words ring so true. This is a time of transition for all of us. The kids are growing up. It seems they don’t need us in the same way they used to. I sense the arrival of a new phase of life for myself. I feel freer to take on new projects, new ventures, new challenges—because it feels like my job here is almost done.
It’s not, and nothing could be further from the truth.
When I look at other people’s young children and remember moments from our family’s earliest days, I feel the pang of loss—but really, these are the days. All of the lessons we taught, the tears we shed, the memories we created are here being put into action, in real life.
The sound of my daughter singing in the shower, singing in the car.
The smile she throws me while she’s running down the court.
The eye roll he gives me while slamming the door.
The Saturday morning breakfast that’s cooked by him, not me.
Her first babysitting job. His first heartbreak.
The shift in responsibility from us to them.
The most simple and mundane of days.
Bearing witness to growing up. It is intimate and lovely.
These beings (caught somewhere between childhood and beyond) are at the core of their good old days—and in turn, so are we. Their lives are changing minute by minute. New experiences, new feelings, new life. And although it’s no longer packaged in tiny shoes and frilly dresses, tooth fairies, or baby kisses—it’s real and big and important.
What a gift it is to be a part of it.
For whatever reason we feel the good old days have passed us by, it isn’t so. These are the good old days– right here, right now, and it’s right where I want to be.
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Latoyia
I love this. I need to live in the moment more.
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Tiffani
Such a wonderful outlook on the kiddos growing up!! This is so true 💗💗💗
Rachel
I loved these. I can totally picture the scene and the sweet place in life right now.
Autumn Murray
“For whatever reason we feel the good old days have passed us by, it isn’t so. These are the good old days– right here, right now, and it’s right where I want to be.” I love this – so true. We need to live in the moment.
Luna S
That say does ring quite true as does the saying of “Enjoy the moments with them when they are small as children grow quickly”, between school, work and housework you lose track of a lot of the precious time together and they really do go from babies to teens in a matter of no time. I wish I could squish them and make them smaller for a few more years!
Neil Alvin Nicerio
I’ll be writing an article like this whenwhen my daughter is all grown up. 🙂
JK Darling
Time files before we know. It’s nice to see you accept each small change with grace. I can feel the love of a mother all over the post. 🙂
folabest
This is so touching.
Keshia Richmond
“Boy-man” how cute of a term. I have one of those and can relate.
Beth Deyo
I great reminder to live in the moment and focus on the little things! Thanks for sharing!
Yonnah M
This is such a beautiful post. Reminds me to appreciate my days more.
amayszingblogs
Time files we can’t realize things until we find that is already past so many years. I totally love this post!
aisasami
What a beautiful post. I do miss the good ol’ days, especially in the 90s when I was a kid.
Matija Antonić
Time flies, but it’s important how you make use of the time still in front of you, cherish every moment that you have with your kids 😀 and cut em some slack here and there, they are just that kids.
myweethoughts
What a sweet post! I’ll make it a point to cherish every moment too!
thislovefilledlife
This was a great reminder. I always wish to go back to the baby days of our little boys, but the days we are in now are just as precious.
Tanyi Melvis Bechemnyo
I completely agree. It is such a gift to watch children grow. The greatest gift ever given to mankind. The good old days indeed.
Nina
Your words are so well-thought of and beautiful! What an amazing feeling it is to love someone who is every inch a part of you. The good old days will always remind us of beautiful memories.
Urbanwows
Very meaningful and nicely written. Loved them from the bottom of my heart 🙂
ZyraKuma
The past is the past sadly. But I always go back from time to time looking back at my happy moments. 😊
Samar
This is one of the most interesting blog posts that I have read.
Thanks for sharing.
Monet Hardaway
This was just the cutest account of your kids growing up!
Prabashi Hirunika
wow this really took me back— Very intriguing.
Sheela Khadgi
This reminded me of my childhood days and it was really fun.
chaddden2001
This is a lovely post. I haven’t had the pleasure of watching children grow up yet, I’m only 17, but I can’t wait for the day I can because I’d love just to live through them, even if its only the little things.
gloriousheights
Such a beautiful post.. the best I have read so far on this topic.. I need to focus more on present and cherish each moment.. thanks for the reminder
Kat Califf
What a great reminder to live in the moment and enjoy what’s in front of you instead of dwelling on the past!
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