Life gets busy when you are keeping the home clean and tidy, and earning money from your day job. So much so, that you can blink and miss the short period of time that the children are small.

There are multiple things going on and when you look back it’s hard to forget the stress of being a working parent during those toddler and pre-teen years.

You think about how they clung onto you when you are out shopping, chatting with friends, or working from home. This may have made you feel frustrated and claustrophobic when you were so tired, stressed and trying to get on with ‘things’.

On reflection

As my girls are beginning their teenage years, I’m looking back at those moments and can see that things have been changing gradually. I knew that the running into my room for a cuddle as soon as they get up, or sometimes waking me up in the middle of the night, wouldn’t go on forever. At the time those sleep interruptions felt like worst thing in the world, but when it stops, you enjoy the quietness for a tiny moment and then… you kind of miss it.

Of course, I am still needed in other ways, for example: ‘Can you help me find my jacket?’, ‘Have you washed my jeans?’, ‘Please can you top up my lunch account?’, ‘Can we watch a film together snuggling up?’ or ‘I just need a hug’. I respond to their asks and treat each of these things as new special moments, rather than look at some of them as frustrations. I want to be there for them and don’t want them to remember me as being stressed when they look back.

Thankfully, my 2 gorgeous girls still enjoy our cuddles, and I’m in no hurry for that to stop. I really look forward to linking arms as we stroll along together or just watching them enjoying the outside world…

A day in Herne Bay last month watching the girls enjoy the sea

I will continue to hold onto the good memories and treasured moments and not taint them with frustrated thoughts.

Don’t miss the ‘small years’.

Until next time…

P.S. My eldest daughter came into my room for a cuddle this morning, which was very apt, since this blog post was just in draft at the time.