I Miss That, But I LOVE This!

This afternoon, I was pulling into the grocery store parking lot, and a lady was walking across the street into the store with the CUTEST 2-ish year old.  She had curly red hair.  Was wearing pink leggings and crocks, and her little feet were just pumping trying to keep up with mom.  I got to missing little bitty Alexa something fierce!
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Can you blame me?!!!  That girl was so stinking cute.  Temperamental as all get out, but CUTE!!!!

So I got my groceries, and came home.  My family came out to greet me, and my children helped carry groceries in.   As I was walking out to the car to get another load- I realized, "Huh.  They got it all."  I didn't have to find a ridiculously light bag for Alexa to carry because she found one on her own to carry, and closed the car up for me.  Andrew actually loves to get groceries out of the car, and likes to carry as many heavy loads as he can.  It makes him feel strong and helpful.  Y'all- my kids were actually helpful.  Not "find ways for them to FEEL helpful."  But like- legit helpful.  It blew me away.  And you know what . . . it's AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Later this evening, we went to see a play at Alexa's school.  Andrew walked in the school, found friends and ditched us.  Alexa sat with me for a bit, but then she found a friend and went over to see her for a few minutes.  Y'all . . . I didn't walk out of the house with a diaper bag that I had checked to make sure was supplied.  I didn't walk out of the house with snacks and tricks up my sleeve to keep anyone entertained.  I brought my car keys and cash and that's it.  I sat down near friends and chatted it up.  I didn't worry about kids throwing fits, how to make a mad dash out if someone didn't behave or got bored.  I didn't even really worry about their behavior because . . . they know how to behave.   There was a family behind me with 3 kids under the age of 6.  They were fine- but the parents had the bags, and the plans, and the tricks.  Their watching experience was totally different than mine.

I'm not trying to brag about my amazing wonderful life.  I'm expressing my wonderment that this is an actual stage.  Like- a real thing. It's not some mythical eon, written in the stars- it really happens!!! Your kids become independent and travel a lot lighter (mentally and physically) And it's glorious.

Except . . . if I knew then what I know now- I would have known to savor those crazy baby/toddler years a little more because as it turns out, they go super fast, and they don't come back.

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