By Cooper
As I walked out of the grocery store with my 5-year-old daughter the other day, she opened a package of Wonka Donutz snacks with such force the snacks flew all over the pavement. Pushing a cart filled to the brim with grocery bags, I tried to balance the cart, which was coasting down a slight grade in the parking lot, while scooping up my daughter -- and the damn snacks -- from the path of an oncoming bus.
It had already been one of those days -- a we-need-bread, the 3-year-old has-a-fever, the 8-year-old forgot-the-homework, husband out-of-town, baby-got-a-huge-goose-egg, dog-got-loose day. And, I was really not happy about the Wonka purchase in the first place. So, I did what any imperfect mother would do and snapped.
"Come on, now, we are supposed to open this type of stuff in the car. Why did you do that? Hurry, come on, there are cars. Arrrrrrgh," I huffed.
At the same time, a woman, probably in her 70s, grabbed my cart, which, at this point, was also making its own way into traffic.
"Thank you," I said to the lady. "I am so sorry."
The woman smiled, looked at us, and in a soft voice said, "I would give anything to be there again."
I took the cart, smiled back and, as we walked away, I felt tears fill my eyes.
At that instant I knew, without a doubt, there will come a time in my life when I will look back and miss these moments -- exasperating, wonderful and everything in between -- and wish to have them all back, if just for a day.
Cooper is the parent of two girls and two boys, ages eight to one. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pa., with her husband and children.
Enjoy those moments as long as you can - crazy and hectic as they are.
I am just recently child free after raising six as a single mom. Now, I sit in an empty home and miss. While I miss the I love you's and the sweet times, I realized that what I miss most is the craziness - the sibling arguments, the "I can't find my shoes", the noise.
While these times in your life will seem crazy and out of control, you will look back one day and wish you could have it all back.
Posted by: Sheri | November 07, 2006 at 08:22 AM
I've managed to save up roughly $34414 in my bank account, but I'm not sure if I should buy a house or not. Do you think the market is stable or do you think that home prices will decrease by a lot?
Posted by: Courtney Gidts | November 16, 2005 at 01:41 PM
tears here too. sniff...
Posted by: Jennifer | October 03, 2005 at 01:33 PM
Wow, this was so great. I have tears in my eyes too.
It is so important to get some persepective on these hectic days and realize, these ARE the days.
Posted by: Krisco | September 30, 2005 at 11:13 AM
I'm crying too. You have inspired me.
Posted by: Shelley | September 30, 2005 at 09:07 AM
beautiful.
thank you so much for the reminder.
Posted by: joy | September 29, 2005 at 10:05 PM
That made me tear up as well.I was driving past a high school and saw the students and thought OMG, my child would be there in 10 years or so..
Posted by: Sraikh | September 29, 2005 at 04:02 PM
Oh, that made me tear up instantly too. Nice reminder :)
Posted by: Kris | September 29, 2005 at 10:56 AM
How do you expect me to cry AND type a comment to you? HUH? I'm only human.
What a "stop and think" post this was. Wow!!
I have had those stressful days too when I wonder how I am going to survive the craziness that is our daily life and then I remember,it's not forever. Lillianna will be 8 in a few days and those years flew!!! Ten more years and she will be off to college. Ten years seems like 5 seconds and I grab my child and hug her as tight as I can while slobbering kisses all over her.
The stressful,hectic,chaotic days of today will be the good old days tomorrow.
This was a wonderful post,Cooper,as always.
Posted by: Robin P | September 29, 2005 at 10:10 AM