Time flies and “poof” you are old

I will be traveling to Texas this weekend to attend a surprise baby shower for our middle daughter who is expecting to deliver her first baby this summer.
As I was preparing for my trip, I began to recollect the anxiousness, joy and anticipation I felt while pregnant with her. On one hand it seems like I was in her shoes not that long ago, while on the other it feels like it has been a lifetime.
Where has the time gone?
When our daughter was an infant, I couldn’t wait for her to reach that next milestone. As she grew into a toddler, I hoped she would quickly outgrow the stubborn streak that set in. Before you knew it, she was a teenager and I could hardly wait to get past the emotional, boy-crazy phase that stage brought to the table.
Now as I fondly recollect, I am surprised at how quickly time has passed by. Looking back, I wish I had just a little more time with that infant that wasn’t sleeping through the night or the toddler that wanted things her way. As difficult as it was having a strong-willed teenage girl at times, I wish I could go back and that it would take a little longer for her to find her way into a young woman.
Of course, there is no going back in time except through memories.
My hope for my daughter and other young mothers is that they appreciate just how quickly their babies will grow and try to be in the moment as much as possible. I hope they savor every moment no matter how small it may seem. Even if tired with a list a mile long of things that need to be done, I hope they take that time in middle of the night to snuggle their babies a few minutes longer. Perhaps they will sit down and play barbies with their toddler or go to the movie with their teenager. I hope they put down their phones and be present. As one day they will find that time has flown by and their little one has grown and gone.
Now that I am older, I appreciate just how quickly time flies and “poof” you are old.
Even though my baby is grown and having a baby of her own, with the knowledge of how quickly life moves along, I am going to make sure I savor every part of this phase and those still to come in her life. My husband and I will celebrate her baby’s milestones with her and we will also be there to remind her to embrace each moment because before she knows it she may be traveling to a surprise baby shower and wondering where has the time gone?