“Sit by me, Papa!”
I was positive my husband’s response to this request would gently be, “Not right now, I need to do some work stuff.” Instead it was a question. “Why do you want me to sit with you?” And the very specific five-year-old answer was, “Because I just do.”
For the next fifteen minutes that’s what he did.
They sat together on the couch, arm in arm, and laughed at Peppa Pig, each trying to outdo the other’s pig sounds while squirming and wiggling away from random tickles. I stopped what I was doing and watched them. I knew this was one of those moments a small boy would always remember.
Rick Warren says in his book, A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE, “Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. You can make more money, but you can’t make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you’ll never get back. Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.”
We joke sometimes that raising our grandson is our “second chance to get things right” and it’s true both of us sometimes regret not spending more time with our children when they were small. Life seemed so crazy back then. I honestly can’t remember either of us specifically sitting down to watch a kid’s show with one of them, although I’m sure we did; and by the end of the day sheer exhaustion usually trumped things like story reading.
Those were the days we parented by blind faith–putting one foot in front of the other while time seemed to run away without us.
We had no idea the reality was those were the easy years.
Challenges lay ahead of us we never dreamed we would face. And when they did, we got through the only way we knew–one step at a time. Storms raged and eventually passed. Lessons were learned. Appreciation gained. Peace treasured. Time, better understood.
Raising our grandson is a gift we never dreamed we would have and certainly one we didn’t deserve. As long time students of experience, the greatest teacher, life looks a bit different now.
We have learned to appreciate the things that matter. We finally understand the best we could do really was good enough.
It still is.
Time moves way too fast but today we are more mindful of it. More focused.
And we know just fifteen precious minutes matter “because they just do”.
Read more about the amazing man I married here. Please share your thoughts in the comments below. I promise to respond! Mahalo!
Lover of reading, writing, sparkly things and whatever purrs, barks or flies. Former helicopter mom, co-dependent and enabler, I am addicted to walking, my family and my iWatch. Teacher by day and writer by night, I am clearly the one learning the most. Keeping it up until I get it right. Choosing joy one day at a time and sharing my journey so others can see why it might not be found if we don’t look for it. Thanks for stopping by!
You were sitting right in front of me and I get that you probably wanted…
I feel sorry for privileged parents. You know, the kind. The ones with perfect kids…
Lyne Berry | 20th Jul 16
AMEN to the entire article.
Laura | 20th Jul 16
Love you!
Lynne Gassel | 20th Jul 16
“Fifteen Precious Minutes” is a poignant writing and resonated with me. Being young and immersed in a family life raising four children the first time around, my minutes seemed to be spent corralling them rather than giving them the minutes individually. Raising a grandchild this time around is so different. Of course, having one makes it easier but adding my age to the equation balances out the degree of difficulty. Still, I’ve learned from my first bout of parenting and this child receives every precious minute. It’s much more rewarding for both of us because he gets my time and I get to know him. The bond is so much stronger. Thank you, Laura, for the reminder!
Lynne Gassel recently posted…FIFTH CHILD: THE NEXT VERSION
Laura | 20th Jul 16
Thanks SO much for that awesome comment!!! I’ll be featuring your book on my blog FOR SURE!
The Thrifty Issue (Kylie) | 22nd Jul 16
Time is precious. We make a conscious effort to ensure we get quality time with our daughters and aren’t forever saying “Sorry, I need to work”. It’s a balance and I can’t always drop what I am doing to do what they want, but when I can’t we schedule a time in soon.
Laura | 22nd Jul 16
Completely agree! Thanks so much for your comment!
Laura recently posted…Fifteen Precious Minutes and Why They Matter
Lori | 23rd Jul 16
Laura, this is beautiful! Time is a precious gift we can give to others. Reading this reminded me when I would watch Franklin and Little Bear when my son was little – what a memory! Thank you for sharing with Thankful Thursdays. I hope to see you again next week.
Laura | 24th Jul 16
Thanks, Lori! I really appreciate the opportunity to share in your Link Up! Looking forward to reading the other great submissions!
Laura recently posted…Fifteen Precious Minutes and Why They Matter
Linda @ Brooklyn Bread | 23rd Jul 16
Beautifully said. We all know this, yet we need to be reminded every day. It is just too easy to rush through life trying to get a million things done, none of which matter nearly as much as treasuring the moment we have been luck enough to have been given.
Laura | 24th Jul 16
Thanks so much, Linda! I agree, we rush around way to much. Probably my biggest shortfall.
Laura recently posted…Fifteen Precious Minutes and Why They Matter
Dolly @Soulstops.com | 27th Jul 16
Laura,
What a beautiful post and a great reminder! Time and attention are the most precious gift we give our children or grandchildren or God….really anyone 🙂
Dolly @Soulstops.com recently posted…A Prayer of Love for You – 5
Laura | 27th Jul 16
Thank you, Dolly, so much!! I still (and always) get excited when someone likes what I write. You made my day!
Laura recently posted…My Birthday Fix: Stitch Fix Review #2
Fran | 28th Jul 16
What a great article! we do need to cherish every moment with our little ones. It is those special moments that create a life time of memories.
Laura | 28th Jul 16
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave me such a nice comment!