Right Now

As my wife and I were sitting in the Audiology room with our 7 month old daughter today, I had some time to think about parenting and life.  Our daughter has moderate to severe hearing loss in her left ear, and we have been through many tests, even a couple that lasted 2-3 hours.  Those really try her patience, as well as ours. 

As I sat there today, on the unpadded bench seat for 2 hours, I thought about how so many people (including myself) tend to put life off until some future event happens.  We tend to save life up, thinking that better times are ahead and we will enjoy things then.  But what ultimately happens is that time passes, and before you know it, your kids are grown and the magical times you envisioned have already passed.  When life passes us by, we end up realizing we should have been living that whole time.

I find myself falling into this trap when I think of all the things I want to do with my son and daughter when they get just a little older.  Roller coasters, skiing, travel, playing catch, riding bikes, etc.  I really look forward to my children being old enough to do those things with us, but then I stop and remember to enjoy the stage they are at NOW.  I know that when they are 7, and we are doing a lot of things together that the tendency is to want them to be just a little older still, so we can talk about life and work, etc. 

The key is to enjoy life in the moment.  RIGHT NOW, as the Van Halen song says.  It’s all we’ve got, and it’s everything.  Life is short and the special moments are fleeting.  Enjoy the time we have with our children, right now.

With the difficult times we are in, and the vast number of distractions pulling us in all different directions, it is a daily test to see where your focus is.  What’s really important to you.  Don’t fall into the trap of working and worrying away your life without really enjoying your family. 

Remember, discipline weighs ounces, regret weighs tons.  Spend time with your loved ones NOW,  and enjoy each and every stage they are going through.  Someday, you will be very glad that you did.