Time Is A Thief

Time is a thief. It moves in one direction and once it is gone it can never be recovered.

I don’t remember exactly how old I was when I realized the realities of time, but I know I was younger than most. Even as a child I can remember feeling worried that there would never be enough time and that mine would run out long before I was ready.

We celebrated my daughter’s 4th birthday back in May 2024 and I am still filled with mixed emotions over this. Having lost a child who never celebrated a birthday at all, I am extra grateful for each and every year with her. However, the time has flown by so much faster than I am comfortable with. I still vividly remember sitting up in my bed with her as a newborn - just a few weeks old - and telling myself to take it all in, slow down, and live in the moment because she would only be that little once. I swear THAT WAS JUST YESTERDAY! How can four years have passed already???

Since Charlotte was born I have spent just about every free minute of my life playing, laughing, crying, teaching, traveling with her and yet, no matter how hard I tried time simply would not stand still. Four years have slipped through my fingers and there isn’t a single thing I can do about.

Why am I just now sharing?

I actually started this draft back in June and never quite finished because . . . well . . . time escaped me. Again.

I took the summer off to recover from major surgery and spend every possible moment with my daughter. We picked way too many tomatoes, blackberries and blueberries, made jams, cobblers, scones, and more. We went camping and explored more of the Pacific Northwest. We took a factory tour and visited college campuses. We shopped, had Starbucks breakfast dates, painted our nails and faces, snuggled up in bed and watched junk TV. We started a neighborhood farm stand. We worked in the garden and shared our bounty with the neighborhood. We slept in and stayed up late. She learned how to swim, collect eggs from chickens, and make pizza. We played in neighborhood parks and flew kites. We became engrossed in all things miniature and crafted our hearts out. Most importantly, we took complete advantage of the time.

I felt guilty for dropping the ball on this blog, but also felt like the investment in my relationship with my husband and daughter was well worth it. As we sat on the couch one mid-summer morning, I asked Charlotte what she wanted to do that day. She turned to me and said, “Mommy, I just want to spend time together.” That was all I needed hear.

When the summer was just about over, I made the decision to leave my high(er)-paying, senior-level, 24/7 work-from-home job behind. I traded it for a local, in-person (much lower paying) four-day work week with no required overtime, even during the busiest quarter of the year. As a wife, mother, and all-around human I am happier and healthier (physically and mentally) than I have probably ever been. I did it all because my 4-year-old reminded me that TIME is the most valuable thing.

Time is a thief. Remember to make the absolute most of it.