This Too Shall Pass

I sometimes read blogs of others—some are in the baby stages (and, can I just kindly ask, what is it with the huge bows perched up on babies' heads?! Bigger isn't always better.) and think how wonderful it is for that family to be soaking up the newness of one so small.

That stage, as fun and challenging as it was, is gone.

I sometimes look at homeschooling moms. The voyeur in me loves seeing the fun experiments, the great new curriculums. Seeing light bulbs go on for your child is an experience like no other. I'm so thankful to have had those years.

I've learned enough to never say never—but, for now, homeschooling is in the past.

I think of friends who have children ready to go to college or be on their own in some other way. They are preparing to parent in a brand new way—not less important or less influential--just different.

Thankfully, there are a few more years before that stage goes by!

Parenting an only child often means that by the time you have actually figured out which stage your kid is in and how to deal with it, your kid is on to a new stage. Kind of leaves the poor ol' parent with a confused look on their face, wondering what just happened!

It also means that you don't have another child coming up behind so you can implement all that you just learned. (Though each stage is somewhat different with each kid, certainly, but there is the hope at least that you are ahead of the game a bit!)

I've thought about this a lot as we have been navigating parenting a pre-teen. I know that growing up is hard—on both the parents and the child. Things shift very quickly. About the time I've figured out where I made the colossal blunder the last time, I realize that I've somehow managed to do it again!

Somehow, though, through it all we all learn. No, as parents, we won't use this knowledge on another child but we will use it again. Every time I learn something about this kid I love with my whole heart, I learn something about myself. Many of her struggles are my own on a younger scale. Many of her fears and doubts are my own—I've just learned to hide them a little better.

Every time I remind her after a tough patch that, truly, this too shall pass. I see with more and more clarity how true that statement is.

It passes in an instant.

My prayer is still that I enjoy every stage that we have but I've also added that I treasure it all—even as we go through it.