Mommy reflects

I was washing Alexander's clothes this evening. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to do laundry and tonight was no exception. As I pulled out bibs, washcloths, burpy rags, t-shirts and pants; I also came across pajamas. Not any ol' pajamas but 18 MONTH old pajamas that were bought before he was born. I remembering thinking at the time, "there is no way my son will ever be big enough to fit into those!" and laughing at the absurdity. Alas, the time has come. Oh, right now, they will still be too big and I am willing to bet I can get a few more uses from the 12 month ones but still, their time will come. My baby is no longer a baby. He is a toddler. And I blame Trace Atkins for the melancholy I feel about this transition. I do not regularly listen to country music but, in the past few days, I've been running errands mid-day and had to listen to something because NPR wasn't available (and hip-hop is never an option when one teaches high school students). Atkins has a new song out called "Your Going to Miss This". This song stopped me in my tracks. And, instead of making that last stop to grab a few things, I drove straight home. The errands can wait. I don't want to miss this.

She was staring out the window of that SUV

Complaining, saying “I can’t wait to turn 18″

She said “I’ll make my own money, and I’ll make my own rules”

Momma put the car in park out there in front of the school

Then she kissed her head and said “I was just like you”
You’re gonna miss this

You’re gonna want this back

You’re gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast

These are some good times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you’re gonna miss this
Before she knows it she’s a brand new bride

In a one-bedroom apartment, and her daddy stops by

He tells her “It’s a nice place”

She says “It’ll do for now”

Starts talking about babies and buying a house

Daddy shakes his head and says “Baby, just slow down”
Cause you’re gonna miss this

You’re gonna want this back

You’re gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast

These are some good times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you’re gonna miss this
Five years later there’s a plumber workin’ on the water heater

Dog’s barkin’, phone’s ringin’

One kid’s cryin’, one kid’s screamin’

She keeps apologizin’

He says they don’t bother me.

I’ve got 2 babies of my own.

One’s 36, one’s 23.

Huh, it’s hard to believe, but …
You’re gonna miss this

You’re gonna want this back

You’re gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast

These are some good times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you’re gonna miss this