9 Things I'm going to miss when my kids are older

Parenting is a tough gig, there is no denying it. From the second you fall pregnant it’s no longer about you and your partner, it’s about the baby.

“Am I eating the right thing?”, “I don’t want to overdo it with exercise”, and then the questions from everyone around you. I like to call this phase the pregnancy marathon. After you run it you are expected to back it up with another marathon, labour. Then, when you hit the finish line they hand you a baby and it’s a whole new game. Nothing will ever be the same again.

You know what I am talking about. The part where the tiredness takes over, you don’t know what time it is, let alone what day it is, you can’t remember the last time you ate anything and oh god, how long has that spit up been on my pants?

I loved having little babies, but thinking about the above makes me wonder where the time has gone (mostly in a tired haze I think) and I know in a few years I will again think back and wonder where my little kidlets went.

Before that time hits I wanted to write down the things that I love so much it hurts. Here are 9 things I’m going to miss when my kids are older.

They come running and calling out muuummmmyyy?!?! Whenever I leave the room for more than 2 seconds. Sometimes it’s frustrating but sometimes, it’s super cute to know that they want to know where I am at all times.
The random and beautiful “I love you as big as that cloud/the Galaxy/this house/that big dog we saw the other day” moments that my four year old surprises me with regularly. These moments always feel like my heart is going to burst.
The proud look on my 2 year olds face when she has just used the potty like a big girl.
Morning cuddles. They’re always so soft and snuggly when they wake up and it’s completely irresistible!
When my 2 year old rubs my back haphazardly whilst cuddling me, she really is the sweetest little thing.
The excitement and magic that surrounds a four year old. There are always conversations about Fairies, princesses and mermaids at our place, and yes before you think it (oh wait, you probably already have), she is the girliest girl I know which is funny considering I don’t think I’m a girly girl in the slightest, that most definitely comes from both grandmas!
Nudie runs. Every. Single. Night. Around the whole house squealing with laughter and ending in a fit of giggles. It’s only going to be cute for so long.
Hilariousness from their ridiculous conversations with each other about everyday life that either ends up in a fight or full belly laughter. I prefer the latter.
When they sleep. Now I know that they’ll always sleep, but there is something special about tiny little people all tucked up in bed. No matter what has gone on in the day, no matter how cranky I’ve been or how naughty they’ve been, there is nothing better than watching your little cherubs sleeping soundly.

Sigh, just writing this has made me feel all nostalgic and I’m actually living it now. I know I’ll love the next chapter as well but time flies and this time with the little ones is simply amazing!

SHARE your thoughts with us in the comments below.

37 Comments

- - jodiev1980 said
  - 29 May 2016
    6:15 pm
Time really does go so quickly when you have kids. I know there’s so many things that I don’t appreciate now that I will look back on and miss so much.

- - meedee said
  - 01 May 2016
    8:06 pm
When you have a baby people tell you to enjoy every moment because it all goes so quickly. I thought what a load of rubbish that was but I look back and wish I had listened because it did go by so very quickly. I remember being very sad when i no longer had under 5 in the house…it just felt so odd to me and I wasnt very comfortable not having a little person with me all day.

- - Tinarh said
  - 01 May 2016
    7:49 am
Oh yes, my heart melts when my son tells me he loves me to the moon and back. And for the first time he wrote a note to say he loves mummy and daddy. Yep, thats getting framed!

- - pakeko said
  - 30 Apr 2016
    9:15 pm
I’m going to miss morning cuddles in bed

- - Nas01 said
  - 02 Mar 2016
    1:51 pm
I have 4 under six and already can’t believe how fast the time has gone. It’s really hard work but everyone keeps telling me to enjoy this time and after reading this i can see how we can take all these little things for granted when our kids are young.

- - mom140986 said
  - 29 Feb 2016
    2:36 pm
Reading this article I thought about yes your children grow up but then come along grand children. I have been very lucky enough to share my 5 grand children’s lives with them. so nothings changed only the faces and hopful I will live long enough to spend time with my great grand children

- - mom57619 said
  - 27 Feb 2016
    11:11 am
There are delights (and challenges) in every stage of childhood.

- - mom160421 said
  - 26 Feb 2016
    9:28 pm
My daughter is a teenager now and a little taller than me. What I miss most is not being able to pick her up and rock her in my arms. On the other hand, I love watching her turn into a young adult.

- - mom103920 said
  - 24 Feb 2016
    11:05 am
With an age gap of 11 years between our youngest and oldest, I\’m already missing lots of little things. Enough that I\’ve already burst into tears – happy tears, but tears still the same – when our youngest reached some milestones and I realised those precious baby and toddler moments are moving on.

- - mom102977 said
  - 15 Feb 2016
    11:12 pm
I sooo agree with you, all the things you mentioned!! I love them so much and will miss every single one, but we’ll have to live in the moment. And I’m sure our little ones will keep us entertained and in wonders over the years to come no matter how old they’ll be 😉

- - serotonin said
  - 12 Feb 2016
    12:20 pm
Such precious moments! I already miss the moments from when my older 2 were little, and am cherishing those still current with my youngest. I know I’ll miss them when she’s older, especially being so popular to the point where I can’t leave the room. Aww.

- - mom101628 said
  - 07 Feb 2016
    10:36 am
I have loved and missed all sorts of things as the children grew up – but other things keep replacing what you miss all the time.

- - mom170057 said
  - 06 Feb 2016
    12:05 pm
That is so true and so beautiful ! Thank you for sharing that with us!

- - mom134803 said
  - 06 Feb 2016
    2:55 am
Yesterday I found myself staring at my son. Looking at his nose, eyes, lips, how his face is changing. Sometimes I would love to stand the clock still or set back for a bit !!

- - mom134791 said
  - 05 Feb 2016
    8:43 pm
Enjoy. When they are teenangers, you will wish you’d drowned them at birth!!! LOL

- - welshmummy said
  - 03 Feb 2016
    8:43 pm
I don’t miss the sleepless night but sometimes I wish could go back in time and spend my boys childhoods all over again. To have them as babies again would be lovely.

- - rovermum said
  - 01 Feb 2016
    11:23 am
This has made me a little sad and wanting that time back. I know have a teen son who recently asked for a cuddle. I was shocked, and he noticed it, but I took it anyway and held on for just a little longer. Time flies so fast and we must try to be in the moment, and enjoy the moments.

- - mom136371 said
  - 28 Jan 2016
    8:57 pm
My 2 boys are still babies and I really hate how fast the time is going. I agree with all those things, I definitely will miss this stage of their lives. Such is life though. We all need to enjoy every stage of life as much as we can while we can!

- - ella12 said
  - 27 Jan 2016
    2:28 pm
I know, I have to agree with you Jacinta (-:

- - BellaB said
  - 25 Jan 2016
    4:03 pm
I always say to my kids that I love seeing them grow up, but sometimes I miss my babies!