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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Flashback

Last night was a b-e-a-u-tiful night (ok, a little cooler than I would have liked, but sunny and clear) so the kids and I walked down to the neighborhood playground.

Annie wanted to swing. Robbie wanted me to chase him. He said I was the fox and he was the gingerbread baby (Jan Brett books, anyone?). So I did. We ran all over the playground and laughed. He would climb up the slide into the tunnel and I would reach in to try to pinch him.

When Charlie joined us (he'd stayed behind to finish up his homework), Charlie became the fox and I got on the swings. If there are two kid things I love, it's swinging and coloring with crayons -- but that's another blog post.

Anyway, at some point in all that running around and swinging, I started remembering days before on the playground, when it was a little Charlie who was hiding in the tunnels, waiting for me to tweak his little side. I remembered when Annie was 2-1/2 and Charlie was just days old and we were on the playground, letting her run off some of that toddler energy. When the playground equipment seemed too big for their little selves, so much so that I would talk with other parents about how I wished they could put in some toddler-sized climbers.

Then I looked around and thought, "how did these kids get so big, so fast?"

We took the long way home, enjoying the extra sun delivered by daylight savings time. About 2 blocks from home, as Charlie and I were talking, he slipped his hand in mine and we walked that way the rest of the way home. Guess he's not so big -- not too big for holding hands with his mom, anwway -- after all.

12 comments:

Eternal Lizdom said...

Love this post, Amy.

And here's something else to think about... when you look back to visiting the playground just last summer... were you running and chasing and such with the kids? I Know that last summer, I did a lot less active play with my kids because I was so out of shape. I am so excited to have the energy and stamina to run and chase and play tag!

Joanie said...

Great post, Amy! I understand perfectly! How did they get so big, so fast? It seems like, Gina, my oldest just started Kindergarten (Dani wasn't even conceived yet), and suddenly, Gina's been out of college for 4 years, Tim is graduating from college and Dani is finishing her freshman year of college!! How did it happen so quickly?

Jessica McCoy said...

Aww how sweet!

Anonymous said...

Aww, that made me tear up. What a great day and special moment. It's great when we can take time to recognize those moments and really take them in.

Joanie said...

Just so you know, I totally swiped your basis for your blog post and wrote one of my own about my kids growing up. I did give you credit and a link to this post though. :)
I'm going to post it before I go to bed tonight.

Joanne said...

That is so beautiful and something to remember and cherish. You really should put a link on your side bar and remember this post when they might frustrate you.

How wonderful to revisit that memory - I can't even begin to remember with clarity a night like that - but my baby is going to be 30 soon -- YIKES!!!

Cat said...

Sounds like an amazing time... there's nothing like playing.

Amy said...

@Joanie - I'm flattered and happy to share the idea.

Momza said...

o you got a momma's boy.
I have momma boys too.

They do grow up so fast!

The Bormann Family said...

Great post! My little ones are 17 months already, I can't believe how quick the time goes.

Lisa said...

Amy, this post was so simply lovely that it nearly made me cry. The simple time spent with our kids is trully the best of times. It is so easy to tell the kids to go play instead of getting out there and swinging and playing with them. I know what I'm going to do tonight!

Nate's Mom said...

Amy, I love this. We went to the beach for a couple of days this past week. And I got to swing on the beach. One of my most favorite things.

My oldest son, now 18, still holds my hand once in while. He is such a gentleman, especially when it comes to mom.

Time sure goes fly.
Sheri