Can't Wait

At what point do you start to wish your child grows up more slowly?

I remember thinking things like...

• "I can't wait for her to talk!"
• "I can't wait for her to walk!"
• "I can't wait for her to be potty trained!"
• "I can't wait for her to butter her own pancakes!"
• "I can't wait for her to learn how to swing!"
• "I can't wait for her to ride a bike!"
• "I can't wait..."

There have been lots of "can't waits" for me as my two daughters have been reaching various milestones over the last six and half years (for the record, they're only six and two years old so we've got a lot MORE "can't wait's" coming up).

When I stop to think about this "can't wait" feeling, it isn't because I am in a hurry to rush their lives, but rather I'm excited about the next phase. For instance, I was excited to have a conversation with them. I was excited to walk hand in hand with Story to the park. I was excited to go bike riding with Raina. And okay, I did want to rush the potty training phase, but for every developmental milestone they made, I was excited about seeing them reach the next.

But this week...this week I felt (for the first time), that I wanted to put aside all of that wishing for the next phase, all of that excitement for the things to come, and instead slow down to focus on where they are at...now.

We're all speeding through life, caught up in the routines of making school lunches (see my hand-drawn note for Raina's lunch today), driving to after-school activities, going to various business and social engagements, and of course trying to squeeze in quality family-time, that we often find ourselves saying, "I can't wait for..." whatever we're wishing for next.

This week, however, I slowed down enough to stop thinking about the next "I can't wait" milestone or experience and instead focused on enjoying the single magical moments occurring before me...

• I saw my two-year-old, Story, roll her eyes at something her sister said. Jeez...don't grow up too fast, honey.
• I saw my six-year-old, Raina, write a letter to her uncle in which she used "OMG" to describe how excited she was about a large, faux ruby he had given her. I had a flash-forward vision of my six year old in junior high at that moment. Jeez...you ALSO don't grow up too fast, honey.
• I had both of my daughters ask me for a "piggy back ride" down the steps at the same time, which resulted in all of us working out a front and back system so I could carry both. They squealed with delight at being carried down together and facing each other over my shoulder whereas I groaned a little bit as my 38-year-old body ported them down the steps. Jeez...don't get too much bigger, girls, or I'll have to carry you one at a time.

Don't get any bigger. That thought hit me.

Up till that moment, I had always thought ahead to those "can't wait" moments - those moment when they were getting bigger and smarter and doing new and exciting things.

Do I want my daughters to grow up? Yes, I do.

However, I now want them to make it painstakingly slow for me. I want to start enjoying every little moment. I know I'll still have the occasional "can't wait" moment (habits are hard to break), but it's being replaced with the deeper realization that my little girls won't be little forever.

Till tomorrow

--Eric

CEO, StageofLife.com