The last time....

I read a wonderful poem posted on Facebook the other day called 'The last time' - written by an anonymous parent who put down on paper how they felt about their children growing up and the wonderful events that gently slip away before we know it.  All us parents, always yearn for the time we had together as a couple before children and the space and freedom we had. We sometimes fail to appreciate that despite all the rows, expense, long days and difficult decisions, parenting is very special. There comes a time when you are not needed to help your kids in the bath, they no longer want to sing the 'wheels on the bus', they are too big to pick up or put on your shoulders or they don't want to hold your hand in front of their friends. This made me really think, especially coming to the fore after Lucy has asked when she and her friends might be allowed into town on their own to go shopping (Not yet!). Those days when she needs me for some things are ebbing away and the balance is slightly turning towards her slowly wishing for independence. Am I ready for this - like hell I am! Not simply because of worry or risk and I don't think she is ready; but because if I am honest I don't want to let go yet. I already desperately miss not being able to walk around with her on my shoulders for example. I always felt at real ease with the world and extremely proud doing this when the girls were small. All I can do is take it one day at a time and make sure before these little things slowly disappear and the girls grow up, I remember, embrace and enjoy these little privileges as a parent....