This past Sunday, when I got home from church, I found our oldest daughter on the couch with tears in her eyes. I thought, perhaps, that she may have been in a time-out and was upset about it. So I asked her what was wrong and she told me something I wasn’t really expecting to hear.

She had been listening to a CD that we listened to when she was much younger (think 2-4 years old). Her favorite song came on (Picnic Time for Teddy Bears) and she got emotional. As we talked, she realized that what she was teary about was that she is no longer that little girl. She is growing up. And it is moving quicker than she realizes it.

It’s moving quicker than her mom and dad realize it, too!

Abbie is getting ready to begin her 5th grade year (is it getting dusty in here?), Chloe is in 1st grade and Malachi will be in pre-school. As much as we want to slow our kids down from growing up, time continues to march on. As parents, we try to do our best to slow our own pace down so that we don’t miss anything; so that our kids know they are loved; so they know what is important.

If I’m honest with you, I cried while I talked with Abbie about a song called, Picnic Time for Teddy Bears. But we weren’t crying about a song, we were crying as a result of the realization that every moment that passes is one we won’t get back and the challenge of embracing the moments in front of us. Each day, we have to make the decision to carry-on like any other day, or to slow down and make the most of the moments we have with our kids, with our spouse, our friends, and even our God.

Nichole Nordeman, on her new album, has a song called Slow Down. While Nordeman isn’t my normal listen, I’ve always admired her lyrics. The song is about a parent telling her baby/kids to slow down from growing up- and a kid singing to her parent to slow down. I’ll admit that every time I’ve listened to the song I’ve cried.

Slow Down. Smell the Roses. Play board games. Stay up late talking about Star Wars or why whatever random topic your kid wants to talk about when they should be sleeping. Each moment that passes is one we won’t get back!