Stopping time

I've been known to wish time would go faster. "It's so hot this summer--I wish winter would come." "Pretty soon it will be Christmas. I can't wait!" "I wish I didn't have to work and could just play with the kids and take care of the house all day... maybe someday."

Yesterday, as I was putting ornaments on the Christmas tree, I got teary-eyed looking at all the precious ornaments my kids have made, even as far back as S's first year in nursery. Each of them is like a little time capsule, especially the ones with pictures of the kids when they were small. My babies are getting big much too fast.

Whenever I start to wish time away, I'm reminded of a quote from the movie Hook. I don't know the exact quote, but it's Moira (the mom) talking to Peter (the dad). She chastises him for never being home, always working too much, and missing important events with the kids. She tells him that they only have a short while with their kids--when kids want to be with their parents. Pretty soon, the parents are begging the kids to spend time with them.

I'm not sure if it's because the twins are the cabooses on our family, but I'm starting to feel like time is slipping through my fingers, bucketfuls at a time. I want to stop time now, while S still loves to play dress up and make-believe; while H still gives me hugs and runs to me when he's sad or afraid; while T still wakes up every morning and puts on the Spider-man costume before the rest of the house is awake; and while A2 and N are still wide-eyed, innocent, and just happy to be with their family.

I don't want to miss a single second of this time with our kids--every hug, every swordfight, every new tooth, and every tiny milestone reached. I want to soak it all up and hold it close. Because one day, much too soon, I'll be wondering where time went and how the kids got so big. So please, time, slow down. You're going by way too fast.