...what your Grandma told you? Every year time seems to speed-up.

I am 41 (may I add...a young 41, almost 42) and I am the mother of two beautiful children. My son is finishing up his Junior year in High School and starting to prepare for college. When I look at my children I can't believe how quickly the time has passed. It seems as if it was just yesterday that I was wheeling one of them in a buggy and the other one was riding around on his Big Wheel watching "Barney".

As we get further into April I am beginning to prepare for my daughter's 8th grade graduation. I still can't believe my youngest is going to be in high school in the fall. I joke with my friends all of the time and refer to my life now as "Preparing for Empty Nest". Now, I know this is a few years away, but as fast as time seems to be ticking, it will be here in no time at all.

Lately at dinner, I notice myself really living in the moment. I think partly because I now realize how quickly our children grow up. It doesn't seem that way when they are babies, waking every 2-3 hours or toddlers, when they are having temper tantrums and nothing we do will console them. Or even when they enter their pre-teens and know everything. But it does happen and it does come quickly.

I remember both of them, so clearly, on their 1st day in Kindergarten. I can remember what they wore, what they said and even their facial expressions. When I look back at that very moment, I can remember saying to myself...it will be OK, they still have 12 years of school left. Well, that 12 years of school is fast approaching.

I know my job as a parent is to raise independent, good and responsible people who will eventually have a life of their own. When I see my children, I see all those things. Great, I did it! But as my youngest prepares for high school and the oldest is getting ready for college I now realize it's hard to let go!

This picture was my daughter's 1st Christmas in 1994 and my son was 3.  It seems like this happened yesterday!