This is an older blog post, but it was shared recently by a friend and hit home (and admittedly, stung a bit too):  How to Miss a Childhood by HandsFreeMama.

What do I want my children to have as memories?  Of course some of the same things I remember... Weren't we all Wonder Woman or SuperMan at some point?  Jumping off buildings (swing sets) in a single bound?  -- okay sorry Mom and Dad, but we did jump off the barn roof too, among other things that will not be admitted to you or my children.

I just don't know where to find the time...  With 5 kids and working full time, our schedules are jam packed. And this is without extra activities, like soccer or girl scouts.  I am reluctant to even add those to my schedule.  But I am missing out on their childhood... and so are they.  I have even taken to pacifying and bribing them with video game play (the current favorite is Smurfs Dance Party for Wii), just to get other things done.

Here is a list of some favorite memories from my childhood:

• roaming free 
• building forts
• blanket forts
• playing board games
• learning how to shuffle a deck of cards
• getting my nails done (by my mom -- which first involved soaking them in warm water and soap)
• riding my bike
• a sick day of Sonic video game play (my brother and I beat it -- I can't even tell you what we were sick from)
• Disney Movie night (on TV)

What I am afraid my children will remember:

• me being on my cell phone
• me placating them with video games
• being sent outside to play on the swing set so I could clean the house

Although, reading my list of memories.. I am *now* sure that some of those items were my parents shooing us away to get things done.

So how do I accomplish "Not missing out on Childhood" from their end and mine?  

I don't get home from work till about 6pm or 6:30pm...  I make dinner.. we eat dinner.. and then its off to bed at 8:30pm.  Not much time in there.  In the morning its getting everyone ready, making lunches, and then out the door and off to daycare/school/work.

Sometimes you just have to

CUDDLE!!

  Countdown: Full Day 6 of a 14 day Respite Placement

Basically that means, not sleeping well and getting up a few times in the middle of the night for some cuddling.  And last night was one of "those" nights.  Aarron just couldn't manage to soothe himself.. he'd kick and thrash, but wasn't able to put himself back to sleep.  A quick feeding at 2:30am with some cuddling, another cuddle session at 5:30am, another feeding at 6:15am and he's still making lots of noise in his crib.  He's not warm or ill... just wanting some loving.  But boy am I exhausted (but enjoying the extra cuddle/alone time with him).

There really isn't much too much going on.. other than napping/playing/eating/sleeping/bathing... well and giggling.. we get lots of giggles!!  Yesterday P. was sticking his tounge out at Aarron (basically making silly faces) to get a nice belly laugh going and instead he sticks his tounge out at P.!!  What a smart little dude!!

Daycare is going well.. he comes home happy and wired!  Yesterday he didn't nap at all while we were making dinner.  Just wanted us to talk to him and hold him (not exactly an easy feat when you are trying to chop a salad), instead we opted for the bouncy seat and some conversation... well I conversed and he giggled.