Tonight as the night began to draw her curtain against the sun I couldn’t help but think how fast the years have slipped past.
Sometimes I want to set the hour glass on its side–pause–keep the moment before me in that frame as it is, not let it end.
Tonight at Kodiak’s soccer game was one of those moments. It was half time, the coach was giving his speech–the boys gathered around him–but my eyes were locked on my son.
There in the fading daylight all I could think was how our time with him was disappearing too. 
I found myself etching this moment–my son–into my memory, my heart, as he is right now.
Soon this chapter will give way to the next. Despite my wish, the hour glass will not rest, her sand will slip through and with it his childhood.
All I can do is remind myself to cherish the now, those slivers of time that open my eyes to notice the incredible person he is today.
And even if but for a moment arrest the ache over the passage of time.
Having both my kids home for the holidays, I’ve felt like this every day. So beautifully expresssed, Elin.
Thanks Lois. So glad you all had the family time. It is so precious and zips past in a wink!
You describe so well the feelings I had during those last years before our kids left home. I chose to do what you are doing and did my best to immerse myself in each moment. It is a good practice and a skill which serves me well to this day. May we all enjoy each moment we are blessed to be here.
p.s. Congratulations! You did it! It’s the last day of November!
Oh how I agree Kim! Sometimes it takes some doing to slow down enough to see–and there are so many gifts when we do. Thanks for the congrats–I think all of us NaBloPoMo writers are glad to have it in the rear view mirror!
What a beautiful piece to finish the month… No one craft emotions with words like you do Elin…. Thank you…..
It is amazing what we notice when we take the time to be still, something I have observed that you know a lot about Ruth. As always I appreciate your being here and your comment.
As usual you are spot on. Sometimes I think you live in my head…
🙂
I so wish I had done just what you did more often – freeze a moment in my memory, consciously store it away. So much of childraising is a blur now!
I bet you actually did Sharon…. I was recently at a workshop for writers and we were asked to write, “I remember when…” at the top of the page and simply write anything that came to mind, I was surprised at the number of “freeze moments” I actually unearthed in that exercise.
You beautifully captured how I’ve felt every day since the birth of my son. He’s turning 21 next week, and I’m feeling the passage of time more and more.
You are an incredibly visual writer, and I was honored to read your post.
Thank you Cathy. The good news is we continue to capture those moments even when they are older (our oldest is 26). Maybe not as frequently…but they still happen!
I’m going to take the time to freeze-frame moments I love in the future. One noticeable thing after my India trip is that I can’t shake the memory. and yet there are so many more personal moments I should snapshot. Food for thought.
One of the things I have loved about reading your posts about India Carol is how much that experience affected you–in a way you make it vivid for the reader. Glad you found a morsel here today. Thanks for stopping by.
Elin, we both and those moments on soccer fields this year as Lisa and I have seniors in high school. They are our youngest kids and as they played their final hs games, I hope to have precious moments also etched in my memory to take with me. Lovely post.
Thank you Mary. Our son’s last high school soccer season just started this past week, I am reminded that when they are little we obsess over all their first steps and now I feel as if I can’t get my mind off of some of the last. It is a bittersweet time and finding a way to capture some of these ordinary life moments reminds me that in fact they really are extraordinary…really a gift.
What a poignant description of a moment every mother has felt. How to cherish each stage of a child’s life and “arrest the ache over the passage of time.”
Thank you Pat.
I host Perfect Moment Mondays on the last Monday of each month, and with this post you have epitomized what they are about. Being exquisitely aware of ordinary moments like these, and through that awareness making them absolutely perfect.
Love it.
Thanks for sharing your PMM posts, I need to look for that Lori! Thanks for being here.
Elin, I am just getting to know you and your writing. You have a gift. This moment you shared – one where you stopped and soaked up the entirety of that moment – has obviously made us all stop. And remember. Or remind ourselves to remember. Thank you.
Margaret, thank you so much…