Living in the Moment

The sun is setting as we finish dinner. Bathtime is approaching. I can feel the excitement beginning to mount. I watch as two little bare bottoms run to the tub in hopes of being the first one to climb in. The first to scale that great porcelain wall. You see being the first one in the bathtub comes with great benefits...the faucet. Sitting at the front of the tub, under the faucet, is prime real estate in our house! Dominic is the victor and relishes every moment... "look mommy, waterfall!!!!", he proclaims as if nothing in the world could be better at that moment than watching this grand Niagra Fall crashing onto his toes. Come to think of it...to him, at that moment, nothing was. That is one of my favorite things about children. Being present in every solitary moment. I love that...I want more of that for myself! As the bath comes to an end and rubber ducks collide with plastic tugboats as they swirl around chubby feet, I feel a little sad. What is wrong with me? Usually this part of the night brings me great joy...after a full day of kiddos it is nearing my very own "me time". But tonight was different. I caught a glimpse of 10 years down the road...when diapers are a distant memory, 2 year old tantrums are a thing of the past, those tiring sleepless nights are all but forgotten...so far so good, right? But gone too are the requests for "uppies" and cuddles, the feeling of their tiny hands in mine, the sweetest sound of "nite nite mommy"...all these cherished moments will ultimately become faded memories. As I fought back tears, unsuccessfully, I realized the importance of experiencing and relishing these moments while they are here! The dishes in the sink will be there tomorrow. The growing pile of laundry will see another day (or week)... I scooped my little cherubs up in my arms and we all piled into mine and Michael's bed. We spent an hour just lying there cuddling, me singing personalized lullabies, them giggling and cooing. Cozy under our fluffy quilt, time stood still. I held them in my arms and in my heart...time stood still. Their drowsy heads resting on my chest, our arms and legs entwined like a loosely woven blanket...nothing else existed ... just that moment...those sweet faces staring up at me... that undescribable connection between a mother and her children. I experienced just a lil' taste of heaven in that moment... a moment that I will carry with me always... a memory that will keep me warm on cold nights when they have grown up and moved away. I plan to have LOTS of those moments from now on! I commit to being a mommy who plays more than she cleans, cuddles more than she disciplines, listens more than she talks, gives more than she takes, laughs more than anything and lives in the moment always!