photo p1_zpsc8a7232f.png  photo j2_zpsc3f43514.png  photo p2_zpse73671a0.png  photo j2_zpsc3f43514.png  photo p3_zps456abd62.png  photo j2_zpsc3f43514.png  photo p5_zps95486d0f.png  photo j2_zpsc3f43514.png  photo p4_zps481d5f13.png

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Time, please stop.

It is early, not quite 8:00am. I am sitting at the computer, my normal spot on a lazy summer morning.

My son comes down from upstairs. I hear his soft footsteps come up behind me as I swirl the office chair around to face him.

"Good morning, baby," I greet him.

"Morning, Mama," is his soft reply.

"Come sit on my lap," I summon him.

He climbs onto my lap, still warm from his bed. He draws up his long, lanky, 5-year-old legs and curls into a ball on my lap. I wrap my arms around him and hold him tightly.

I push and sway, turning the office chair into an impromptu rocking chair.

"Time, please stop!" I scream in my head, as I hold my baby boy in my arms.

My mind drifts back several years and a two-year-old boy is curled up on my lap in a glider, curling his hair between the fingers of his right hand. We are moving gently back and forth in the chair.

"Time, please stop!" I scream in my head, as I hold my baby boy in my arms.

My mind drifts back a little further and a newborn is curled up in my arms. We are gently rocking. His eyes are closed and a slight smile passes across his face.

"Time, please stop!" I scream in my head, as I hold my baby boy in my arms.

But my pleas are not heard. The long, lanky,5-year-old legs slowly uncurl and he pushes himself out of my lap. "I'm gonna go play now, Mama," he says.

"O.k., baby. Go play," I say, as I turn my chair around to face my computer again, silently wiping away the tears that are streaming down my cheeks.

post signature

31 comments:

Denise said...

Such a beautiful,heart touching post my friend. Oh, how I wish we could freeze moments in time, but we can in our hearts. He will always be your baby boy, snuggled up close in your heart. I love you my friend.

Anonymous said...

I am a friend of Pam's and I have been reading your blog all summer but have yet to comment. I just had to after reading this one. I have a 7-month old baby boy and this post really hit home. I'm already wanting time to stop with him, but I know it won't. Loved your sweet words this morning.

Kimberly

Mama2hre said...

I have the same thoughts. My sister and I have 5 children. The first 4 are each 11 months apart. For years we were in the "baby trenches". This weekend we all went to a local amusement park. The oldent 4 were going down these HUGE intertube slides....ALONE. My Sis and I had one of the most bitter sweet moments of our lives! Yeah! idependance, Yeah! fun BUT what happened to our wee babies?!

3XMom said...

awww.so sweet. I feel the same way, especially on the rare occassions that my 6-yr old is still cuddly.

Cynthia said...

Ahhhh...I can't take it! Time please stop!

Kellan said...

This was so sweet, Beth - and brought tears to my eyes. They are a gift - aren't they?

Take care - Kellan

Anonymous said...

Wow. Thanks for sharing this. Now I need to regain my composure. I say ditto...ditto...ditto!

Maude Lynn said...

And, now, the tears are streaming here, too!

the dragonfly said...

Oh, I know this feeling. My son is only 14 months old, but I beg time to stop often...

*sigh*

Lovely post.

Tina said...

Oh my...I'm right there with you.
Very sweet post...

Annikke said...

I was feeling that way this morning. The boys start back to school next week and my youngest is going to full time preschool. EEEK.

RR Mama said...

I feel the same way. Mine are 3 and 8. I remember saying to my self, if time would just stop. I love it when they want to climb in my lap and let me rock them. I know one day they won't want me to hold them. Cherish this time!

Jen said...

Those moments are priceless.

Totallyscrappy said...

You sing it, Girl! My baby just turned 5 on Monday and I often find myself wishing time would stand still. And my 5 year old sounds a lot like your 5 year old. Camo and cars all the way...
Thank you for all your kind words on my blog. :)

Mari said...

Oh yes! I guess we have to just keep enjoying what we have right now. It's too easy to keep waiting for something better in the future and wishing our lives away. I wish I could go back in time and snuggle with each one of my kids!

Corey~living and loving said...

BETH...PLEASE Stop! I shouldn't be crying at work.

WOW! wonderful post! thank you!

BlondeMomBlog (Jamie) said...

Sweet sweet post. You made me cry, too!

It's so bittersweet watching our kids grow up.

Momisodes said...

Oy. Why must they grow up so quickly? Makes you want to hold onto them every moment you can.

elizabeth embracing life said...

I always tell me kids to stop growing, but they never do. My 20 year old son will still hop on my lap and ask to be held like a baby. He embraces that more today than he did at 14. LOL

Anonymous said...

I feel the same way with my children... time, please stop. It's so great to see them doing things with their life, and moving up and on, but tragic to lose that tiny baby who needs me so.

Susie Q said...

At some point almost everyday I think the same thing....sigh.

Michele Williams said...

They grow up too quickly! My grandson, who is 13 now, used to like his "sugar time" with his grandma. Now I'm lucky if I get a hug! I told him he'll never be too old for "sugar time"... He said, "grandma, you are funny".

PS... you have been tagged... go to my blog to get details.

AlaneM said...

Such a sweet post beth!
I miss when I could tuck my kids heads under my chin - now they're all WAY too tall for that. But I'm very thankful that 2 of mine are snugglers - I don't think Sam or Adah will ever tire of rocking in the recliner with momma :)

Melissa said...

so its true then? You can't make them stop growing up? Mine is almost just a year and I can't belive how fast it has gone.

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Oh so true. Times like that I wish life had a pause button.

Anonymous said...

Such sweet memories.

I guess the best we can do is just savor the moment.

Rebekah said...

My oldest baby is 14. My youngest is 2. I am keenly aware that she will soon be 14 as well.-Sigh-
I told the 14 yr old to sit on my lap the other day and he swamped me. Sigh again

Carol said...

I'm trying to ignore the reality that time is flying by far faster than I ever want it to.

Such precious moments keep passing me by.

Tyne said...

Yes, me too! I want time to stop. Except during the witching hour (that time between naptime and when daddy comes home).

Anonymous said...

This post is so melancholic, yet beautiful. I was deeply touched by it, because I felt the same way last night when I rocked two year old to sleep. The nightly rocking stopped about a month ago.

Jaina said...

Awww, that was sweet. I wish time would stop for you.