Today my oldest child started high school. My second started middle school. They’re growing!!

Now I have children in three different schools and one at home.

I know, that doesn’t make me special or unique. I’m not Supermom or some amazing example one should admire. I’m just a mother who is amazed, as any mother is, that the time remaining with my children is slipping away.

I confess, I don’t believe I’ve always made the most of my time with them. I’ve been trying to change that of late and I believe I have been doing a pretty good job of it.

I strive to provide what is within my power for my children. Right now it is memories. Those things not within my power (i.e., material necessities such as weather-appropriate clothes to accommodate their growing bodies) would be nice, but I had those when I was a kid…I wish I had memories instead.

So I won’t minimize the substantial impact these times of togetherness may have on our kids later. Looking back, I had “things,” but not much else. I would much rather have memories that bring me comfort and warmth.

My second-oldest sister Jolé was there to do that for my younger sister and me, and I am forever grateful for that. Without her in my formative teen years, I wouldn’t have survived high school. Seriously.

Time is slipping. I have my older sister’s example of love to me that helps me show my kids that they are significant to someone; my life would be incomplete without them.

If I succeed in my goal, my kids won’t look back and see our lack; they’ll see great memories that will carry them through life’s inevitable valleys. My life’s biggest failure would be if I forgot what made me feel loved as a kid: time investment in me by someone who clearly could have been doing other things.

© Alexa Lopez 2007