That's how this post started.
I usually try very hard to not be a jealous person. So when the feelings of jealousy hit I had to find out where it was coming from.
Here's the thing... This Christmas it's been hard for me to see all the little cookie cutter families. You know the kind, perfect mom, perfect dad, perfect well behaved impeccably dressed kids, blah, blah, blah. Families out Christmas shopping, doing crafts or baking cookies. All of the usual family Christmas type stuff.
But I have to ask myself: Why is it hard for me to see these families this year when it hasn't bothered me before?
There was a time when I had that kind of life. I was the mom in a cute little family of four, plus one dog. I've had past Christmases where I did all those wonderful things like crafts with the boys, baking Santa cookies with them and putting out carrots for the reindeer. From the outside looking in we were a Norman Rockwell painting. But it wasn't perfect. Not by far.
So I ask myself:
Am I wanting my old life back? Ha!... no.
Am I missing that time? Yes... in a way.
What way? I don't know!
Let me see if I can work through what I'm thinking. I do I miss the feeling of being in a cookie cutter family. The mom, the dad, the kids. The whole set up! But I don't miss my old life. Maybe that's why my family failed... I was more interested in creating my own little cookie cutter family than I was in making sure I married the right man to have that family!
BINGO
I think I'm getting somewhere!
David and I have had many talks about how we wish we'd have met each other first, and that our kids would be just ours, and not half of other people. When each of us we're going through the Cookie Cutter phase, we were married to people that brought pain to our families. So I guess now when I see those families, I wish that David and I could have it, you know, from the get go! Like we could go back in time and relive that phase with what we know now. We could do the Cookie Cutter phase all over again, and this time do it right!
Sounds great, huh? But I'm afraid that ship has sailed. I will forever regret not being able to experience that phase of life with David.
So, that answers part of my question..... but what about the other part? Why is it bothering me more now? Why this year?
Well, let's see, what else did I like about that time? Doing things with the boys.
Ok, can I still do things with the boys? A little , but not really
Why? They're getting older.
There ya go!
My boys are growing up!
At least my oldest is. He's not interested in doing crafts with mom, or baking cookies anymore. He rolls his eyes when we playfully talk about Santa. He's grown out of so many things that we used to do, it's sad. I miss him being little. It also makes me realize it won't be long before my youngest will grow out of these things too.
My eyes well up with tears when I see them growing and changing so fast. I'm not ready! I really didn't think it would happen this fast. I thought I had more time!
*tears*
Ok, I'm better.
I know I'm not really jealous of little cookie cutter families all smiling and happy. They are all beautiful families that I pray never have to go through what we've been through. But there are lessons to take away from my ramblings...
One, we need to be teaching our children not to rush into marriage. Pray for them to marry the right person, and teach them to do the same. The family part will come in time, but if you don't get the spouse part right it's more likely to fall apart.
And two, even though I'd heard it a hundred times, enjoy every minute your kids are little. It goes by so fast and before you know it, it's over. I know I'll be savoring every moment I have left with mine.
LLM
