These are the years….

These are the years…

These are the years of sleepless nights, broken sleep, bleary eyes and exhaustion… as we cradle precious life in our arms…

These are the days spent silently crying, screaming and swearing… but putting on a brave face.

These are the nights of endless all consuming worry… about health, happiness, development, growth, nutrition, sunscreen, social and emotional adjustment… as the keys to their future rest heavily in our hands.

These are the days filled with self doubt… filled with fear that we are not good enough.

These are the nights… so long, so lonely, so dark, as we spend hours soothing, shooshing, rocking and cuddling due to teething, reflux, illness… or just because being in this world is hard.

These are the days of anger, frustration, running late and tantrums … as growing independence challenges every inch of our adult minds.

These are the nights filled with overwhelming guilt for yelling, shouting, and loosing our cool.

These are the days that are less than glamorous… full of nappy changes, accidents, and being covered head to toe in food, vomit and other bodily fluids.

These are the nights we fight… about eating vegetables, NO more ice cream, brushing teeth, reading “just one more” book and going to bed.

These are the days we negotiate… we bribe… we do just about anything just to get by.

These are the years we lose our identity… small lives become our priority, and who we once were fades into the background…

These are the years our relationship changes… from sexy and spontaneous to tired humans just trying to keep it together.

These are the years we learn what true love means… true, unconditional and all-withstanding love.

These are the years we learn to love ourselves, scars, stretch marks, grey hairs and all.

These are the years our friendships change… differences in lives lived and life choices cause some to grow distant, while others flourish and strengthen.

These are the years we learn to be patient… as learning about life is a long, slow, lifelong process.

These are the years we take responsibility… of our lives, of our families. We buy homes, run businesses, care for children, grandparents and parents…

These are the years innocence and naivety are lost… as we now truely appreciate the devastation of loss… as we experience it ourselves or in those we hold dear.

These are the years where pure joy can be brought on by a smile, a giggle, a cuddle, or an “I love you”.

These are the years we must try not to waste… in front of screens, social media and games… as real life may pass us by…

These are the years… Full of ups and downs. Full of change. Full of challenge.

They may be tough,

But they are also joyful.

Every moment within these years is a blessing.

And remember …

The years pass by so quickly…

These years will be over before we know it.

So

Breathe…

Be thankful…

Enjoy.