The Good Old Days

I am a person that needs reminders. 

I make lists and write on post it notes and of course add reminders on my phone. 

If it is out of sight, it is likely out of mind for me. 

So frequently, I run into sweet mothers that look at me with my little ones and longingly say, “oh how I miss those times.” I can see it in their eyes. 

I so appreciate these women, because even after a crazy morning of trying to get out of the house, they remind me that I am in such a sweet place. 

When I look through my mom and mother in law’s photo albums, the young years always seem so vibrant. 

It’s so easy to giggle at the photos of children covered in chocolate, or of little me in the most hilarious chick costume for halloween. 

The sweetness is clear seeing the baby asleep on mom or dad’s chest in that photo from a Saturday afternoon. 

These moments are just as fleeting as they are special.

That’s what causes the ache in the mother’s eyes when she tells me how much she misses it. 

Although it may be a feeble effort, I decided I wanted a reminder of this. 

This thought that, although it may not always feel like it, I am living in, “the good old days.”

I am living in the days that my future daughter in law will ask questions about. 

I am living in the days that I will look back on in my photo albums one day.

I want to be aware of that. So I created a poster for my home. 

Something with some vibrant color and fun font to go along with the sentiment. 

I put it on the landing of our staircase.

I cannot tell you how many times I glance up and need that reminder.

Because how often are we running back upstairs for ANOTHER outfit because of throwup or an accident.

Or how often are we slowly making our way up to start bedtime and we are maybe dreading it.

Each time I see this reminder, I take a breath, and have a moment of gratitude. Because while the frustration might be what I am feeling at the moment, years from now, I won’t remember how much effort it took just to get my children upstairs. I will remember how sweet they looked wrapped in a towel after bathtime.

I’ll remember what it felt like for them to fit in my lap while reading a bedtime story.

And I bet, I’ll wanna be back in that moment more than anything.