Young children away from home always need spare clothes. An extra pull-up. An emergency toy. Pictures of family. Socks. Most of us moms have meticulously packed these items in a Ziploc bag for storage in a cubbyhole at daycare or mother's day out. Unless they are needed, these things are usually forgotten.
Today when I was hugging Pretty Girl goodbye at school, JBB's former teacher gave me his Ziploc bag. It had somehow fallen behind the cubbyholes and become lost for nearly three years. Until yesterday.
Something about that most ordinary collection of items is poignant to me. The picture on top is of JBB wearing Superman pajamas sitting next to a 3 month old Pretty Girl who is so enthralled with her big brother that she can't be bothered to gaze at the camera. The toy is a pound puppy that a neighbor gave to JBB and the shirt has a stain.
This dusty Ziploc bag is a time capsule of sorts, something that I packed at one particular moment in time that is now gone forever. JBB no longer has need of such things as an emergency toy and Pretty Girl is no longer a tiny baby. I'm not sad about that. But it seems like I packed this Ziploc bag a very short time ago, and if it really seems that way in my mind, then I am quite certain that their current and precious stage of childhood will be just as fleeting. That makes the tears race down my cheeks.
8 comments:
Hi this is my first visit. Kids grow up so quickly. I remembered my niece was a little baby and now she is in first grade. : )
Lipstick, in my experience it passed slowly, but then, once gone, was just so gone. And it seems so vivid in the moment, how can that time just pass? I can still be brought to tears by the sight of my kids as littles. Even though they are 19 and 22...
Good post and I am with ya.
Our twins are 3 now, and I saw some photos the other day of them at 18 months. I can't believe how the days have flown by.
Aw, what a wonderful post Miss Lipstick, you really made wince and smile at the same time. It must go so slowly and so quickly at the same time for a parent, we can only guess at the bittersweet sense surrounding all of it.
Thank you for such a pretty post,
tp
awww that is sad and sweet at the same time....you know how fast time goes by but then you're reminded of it again! cute blog...you've got a new follower!
Hello,
I have been enjoying your blog for some time. You have such a great sense of humour and your blog is so well written.
Yes, children grow up fast and looking back a lot seems a little blurry. All you can do is enjoy the moment - as much as possible.
Best wishes,
Bente in England. (Yes, you have international readership!)
@Bente...thank you so very much for your kind comment. I am so happy to know that you are reading! I am beyond ecstatic and totally humbled to hear that I have international readers!
My kids are 15 & 18. Do you know what I would give to have Mrs, Schultz at Belmont Heights Methodist Church Preschool in Long Beach, California, call me to tell me she has an end-of-the-year ziplock bag with my children's treasures from lost and found that were found behind the old red wooden cubbies in room 3?
waiting......ok I have located a KLEENEX and can now see the keyboard again....thank you for this post...I have now stopped yelling at everyone this morning to be ready in the next 30 minutes or else. xo
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