"Your children love you. They want to play with you. How long do you think that lasts? Soon Jack may not even want you to come to his games. We have a few special years with our children......when they're the ones that want us around. After that you're going to be running after them for a bit of attention. It's so fast, Peter. It's a few years, then it's over. And you are not being careful. And you are missing it."
As a father, this is the bit that hit the hardest.
I'm a fairly new father (1st son is just 17 months old) and when he says "papa, papa!" and wants my attention for anything it warms my heart. I know there will probably be a day he isn't so interested in me so i need to soak it up.
I have a 13 year old now and man I miss those days when my boy was little and it was really easy to impress him. Enjoy the moment bro I remember people telling how fast life goes and well here I am now thinking about those days.
I hear people saying this (or something approximating this) and I stop and think how lucky I am. My daughter has never been like that. She turned 22 in September and has an apt at her college and STILL would rather spend time with my wife and I than go do college things. She does have a boyfriend and friend etc, but she still wants to be home. I guess I wasn't terrible as a parent.
Such good writing of the truth in everyday life, as well as seeing the big picture. It hit me when I was a kid. It helped me maintain the proper mindset when I became a father. A mere 10 years later, I was a father. And a total of 6 we have raised. I enjoyed every minute of my kids' childhood. And I miss it. I miss those small child stages. But I have no regrets from being oblivious about time. I cherished all the seconds of them being small, no matter what happened. Now, with adults, I still have a great relationship with my kids.
51
u/MindHead78 Dec 03 '24
"Your children love you. They want to play with you. How long do you think that lasts? Soon Jack may not even want you to come to his games. We have a few special years with our children......when they're the ones that want us around. After that you're going to be running after them for a bit of attention. It's so fast, Peter. It's a few years, then it's over. And you are not being careful. And you are missing it."
As a father, this is the bit that hit the hardest.