Focusing on the Bigs {Mindful Mothering Mondays}

It's beginning to happen, those big kids of mine deciding they've had just about enough of Mama's photog ways.  It starts slowly, with a sigh and a rueful look when I go to snap a picture of whatever it is they are doing or reading, or how they look in that new dress or baseball uniform.  Then, after a while, I realize that my CF card is conspicuously missing pictures of them - telling the story of two kids who have found a way to stay out of the limelight.

My Mom mentioned it last night in passing, as my oldest daughter raced by.  "She is so big.  Her childhood is nearly over.  I hope she enjoyed it...I hate that it goes by so quickly."

I felt like I'd be slammed in the chest by a brick, slapped across the face with a 4x4.  What?  Childhood nearly over?  It couldn't be.  But, I guess...in just  a few short years...

It's a funny place to be.  In so many ways, starting over - still doing the diaper and nursing thing, relishing these baby days with Rosie and Peter, enjoying the preschool antics of my mighty warrior boy Jonah, and of course Fiona's first grader confidence and sass.  With these older two flying below the radar in so many ways, it can be easy to miss that they are growing up - and yes, alarmingly quick.

Ben will be 10 this summer, my first to reach double digits.  When I look over the past 10 years, I don't remember when he got so lanky and tall, or when our relationship changed: from Mama and baby to Mama and toddler, little kid, and now?  I know the years are just around the corner when he'll grow taller and taller, leaving me behind him as he reaches new heights in all ways possible.

It's so odd to finally be confident in the parenting of little people with these last few, only to still be so unsure as my oldest children reach new ages.  The future both terrifies and thrills me as I think ahead to all we will encounter in the next 5 or so years.  All the things they will learn and see.  All the hard truths they will learn.  All the grace we will all need to get through it, together.  It scares me because I feel so unprepared to take on these big new challenges, but then I remember that starting out with that very first little bundle of baby felt that way, too.  And we made it.  We really did!  Somehow, together, we made it.

And so I'm treasuring up these moments in my heart.  These childhood days, the last few years when all my children are in the golden days of childhood, together.  The days before the questions get tougher and the stakes higher.  I'm praying grace over today and all of the days to come, knowing that the One who has guided my path thus far will be faithful to see it completed.

{It's Mindful Mothering Mondays, a day to take a deep breath and write out your mothering journey, whatever form it takes. A day to link up for encouragement from others who are in this same phase of life. A day of writing out the trials and triumphs and what you're learning right where you are, right now.

You might post recent struggles or thoughts. Maybe just a picture or a quote. Or maybe you'll just come here and read the links that others post. Whatever form your participation takes, this is a day for you.
We are all in this, together. Together, we can encourage and build one another up, be honest with our shortcomings and strengthened by community to keep fighting the good fight.

I chose Mondays because what Mama doesn't need a little encouragement on a Monday? As such, I'll have the link up ready to go on Sunday night for you to begin submitting your links.

I hope you'll meet with me each Monday! Here's what to do ~

Link up your post below. Remember to put the link to the exact post you want to link, and not just your blog url. Include in your post a link back here so others who want to join in can find us! And visit some other Mamas who have linked up.

Post the community graphic within your post, so people who are reading your Mindful Mothering post can come back here and find the rest of us!

Invite the writers of your favorite blogs to join in!

Share this meme with others on facebook and twitter. This community is for all moms, and the more that participate, the more we will be able to enjoy!!}

Grab the graphic here:

<center> <a href=”http://smalltownsimplicity.blogspot.com/“><img border=”0″ src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33nGWFb2YqBvZ2ZS-TaTwYSjYhNzQ5TsyXZbHO49CfTNnySLTZOjvSMRm6W3UVvixj_M5Aw9t17wSLFFAts22_rNk_9q4xVEQQ2GUcjevwiaR2i0wM5QN4BbX-4mcMEgI7jlHcruJtv3E/s1600/MMgraphic.png"/></a></center>
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