The Days are Long But the Years are Short

Jill's Journal: It’s back-to-school week in Kentucky. Depending on the county, all of our friends’ kids either started school today or will start tomorrow or Thursday. Kentucky feels a million miles away lately, so I only know this because of the awareness Facebook brings, but I found myself feeling a little jealous today of the freedom those fellow Moms have when their children spend all day in school.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love and appreciate our life. But my twinge of jealousy came with thinking about what it would be like to have 35-40 hours a week of child-free time. Oh, what one could accomplish with even a fraction of that time! I’ll bet I could even take a shower uninterrupted. I don’t remember what that was like.

I had these thoughts while watching my girls on a seesaw at a local park today (above) and it dawned on me that they’re each others’ best friends. Yes, they squabble and bicker like any other siblings, but they also play together so beautifully. Would they do that if they were all in different classes in school, which would probably make their age differences more pronounced?

And then I felt jealous again. Homeschooling this past year has been so much fun, but it’s also hard work (mostly for me!). I never thought I’d be a homeschooler. Am I ready to tackle another year soon?

I remembered a magazine paragraph that gave me inspiration recently: “I watched him put letters together to make words; I held his hand to write and watched him form his name on his own for the first time; I saw his excitement at writing number sentences like a mathematician. These learning moments and other milestones became precious to both of us, like watching a baby’s first steps. I don’t want someone else to teach my children about the fall of Rome, the martyrdom of Tyndale, or the theory of relativity. These are ours to share.” --Lee Ann Garfias, Home School Enrichment

And then I knew: I wouldn’t trade this life. Yes, it can sometimes be exhausting to spend all day every day with your children, but I get to be a party to those special moments that come once in a child’s lifetime. And, as an extra bonus, homeschooling allows us to travel in this way. What’s not to like?

I once heard an anonymous saying that has always stuck with me, “The days are long but the years are short.” It’s so true. Sometimes a day with kids, no matter how much I love them, can last forever and I can’t wait to get them in bed to find a moment of peace. But at the same time, the years are flying by at an alarming rate. I love these three little gals God entrusted to us; I don’t want to miss a moment. If that means (occasional) frayed nerves and (always) interrupted showers, so be it.

I may sometimes feel envious of the extra time without kids other Moms get, but maybe, just maybe, those same ladies are envious of the extra time I get with my kids?