As I drive by Burger King, I try to remember the last time I sat in that Play Place. Not that I miss the sticky floors and tables, but it sure served it's babysitting purpose on those long winter days! I formed my own little Mommy Support Group in that place.
When is the last time I shopped in the children's department, or even more sad, Gymboree? I loved that store and all it's fun clothing! Actually, when's the last time I shopped for my kids at all! No longer am I able to bring anything home from the store and expect my kiddos to love what I bought them! "Puhleese Mother ... You expect me to wear that?"
I don't remember the last time I buckled my youngest into a carseat! Don't miss that at all! But the safety of that "click" sure beats the heck out of me sitting in the passenger seat with my permit-laden 15 year old behind the wheel!
The last bubble-bath with rubber duckies, and me rinsing the shampoo out of the little ones hair, is but a faint memory. "Shut the door! I'm naked in here!"
In spite of the bloody mess, I miss putting bandaids on all the boo boos, and giving the ouchy a sweet healing kiss! Now all I hear is, "hey Mom, look at this gash! Do you think a bandaid will do or should we go to the ER"? Bigger people simply means bigger wounds!
Thankfully I don't remember the last diaper, the last high chair cleaning, or the last ear infection that kept me up all night!
I long to hold my children one last time, squeeze them tight, and sing "You are my sunshine" softly in their ear! Instead, I will need to do my own recording and hope that they will download it onto their iPods. When they fall exhausted into bed, after a long evening of homework, they will put those snuggly little earbuds into their ears and smile as they hear me sing "... you make me happy when skies are grey."
