When My Three Year Old Came Home For The Holidays

The other night I had the rare opportunity to go to Target by myself. When I got in the car, I unplugged the DVD player that had been playing “Meet The Letters” for the last month straight. Peace. And. Quiet. A 10 minute car ride to think about whatever I wanted.

Unlike most trips, when I entered the parking lot I didn’t have to go on a hunt for an empty parking space near a cart corral. Nope, I could park ANYWHERE.

As I climbed out of my car and felt the freezing cold air, I remember thinking it was so nice that I could walk fast, and that I didn’t have to trudge through the snow pushing the weight of my small children.

Oh to be at Target ALONE.

As I walked through the aisles, I kept crossing paths with parents and their college aged kids home for the holidays.

In the baking aisle I saw a mom and her daughter picking out ingredients and talking about what goodies they were going to make together.

By the frozen foods, I overheard a conversation between a mom and her son, asking him what snacks he wanted her to have on hand while he was home.

As I was traveling across the store, I spotted a dad and his daughter in home decor, talking about what gift to get mom. How sweet.

As I was waiting in the check out line, out of the corner of my eye I overheard yet ANOTHER conversation similar to what I’d been hearing all evening.

The son was talking about something, but the subject didn’t matter. I could tell there wasn’t much that would have stolen his dad’s smile. The look of pride on his face was unforgettable. They were together, and that was all that mattered.

Sometimes I think God has a sense of humor. I thought that I’d be refreshed by getting out of the house by myself. Instead I found myself with tears in my eyes as I imagined standing in line with my oldest, listening to him tell me all about “something” that happened during his first semester away.

It was then and there that my world flashed before me for a moment.

Some days it feels like this stage we’re in is exhausting and never-ending, but the truth is, it isn’t going to last forever. Soon enough, quiet car rides are going to happen way too often. We won’t think twice about where we need to park when we go to the store. We won’t have to plan shopping trips around nap schedules and feedings, or rush through the aisles so we can finish before someone melts down. Every trip to the store will be quiet and boring, and we’ll count down the days until they come home again.

The reality is, every night we put these precious kids to bed, they wake up a day older. A day closer to their sweet 16th. A day closer to graduation. A day closer to their forever love and wedding bells. A day will come too soon when we’ll be wishing to relive first steps and first words. When we wish we could see carseats in our rearview mirror and fingerprints on our windows. When we wouldn’t mind stepping on an occasional Lego in the middle of the night. The car will be cleaner and the house will be quiet.

I know that I NEED time alone now and again, or I won’t be the happy mom my kids deserve. But that night gave me a fresh perspective. Soon enough, I’ll be giving my babies away to the big world. Every stage will have beauty, but this one is something special. I don’t want to blink.

XOXO,
Amber

P.S. For more reflections on parenthood and life, follow us on Facebook (Hun Let’s Run) and on Instagram: @ambermariekuiper and @jakekuiper! We’d also love for you to subscribe to our Hun, Let’s Run Podcast! For more info about joining our fitness community as a customer or coach, please email us at amber@mommysmetime.com!