Having the house I grew up in cleared out today. My parents moved over to Ireland a few years ago, my father passed recently & my mother suffers from Alzheimers.
A lot of stuff runs through you during profound moments like this.. I’m fortunate to have mostly good memories.
But what is sticking with me the most is how fast this all goes. I know people hear it all the time from elderly folks in their life but at some point it’s going to hit you like a ton of bricks.
If you have your parents around, go see them, call them & keep them as an active part of your life.. no matter your relationship.
And if you have children.. well..
The ball in this picture was the one my 4 boys left at my parent’s house to kick in the yard every time we were there.
It perfectly represents the moment.. It’s still there but dilapidated, old & unused.
When I look at it I just think of my babies in size 2s chasing each other around the yard with my parents alive & well watching & laughing with them.
It honestly feels like yesterday. My oldest is 13 now.
I can’t begin to explain how fast we got here & how desperate I am to slow it all down.
But I can’t & neither can you.
But you can actively cherish every moment you have with the loved ones still in your life.
I don’t regret anything. I’m just aware.
I know that when my kids were little I played with them every second I could no matter how tired or stressed I was & that hasn’t changed.
My oldest might be a teen but I still have 11, 9, 9 & 4 to keep up with 😂
And now my focus is on making that $ number on the screen depict the kind that lets me do what I want, when I want.
That will usher in the next chapter of our lives as something we’re able to fill with experiences & memories together.
Not just working my tail off to pay the bills & finding time for my family.
So when my kids clear out their childhood home they look back and marvel at how awesome it was.