Resolution 2011: Don't Miss the Sparkly Eyes

I read a post on a favorite blog of mine the other day. She was relating it to Christmas and reminding us not to miss out on the magic of the "sparkly eyes" our kids get around this time of year. You can read it here. As I thought more about this, I realize that as a mother I have the tendency to get bogged down, and miss out on the smiles, laughs and "sparkly eyes" of my children. I also tend to tackle motherhood with a "fly by the seat of my pants" mentality.

I've never been very good at New Year's Resolutions. This year, I hope to change that. I don't know what is about this coming year, but I feel like it's going to be a big one. Maybe it's because I'm turning 30. Maybe it's because Andrew and I will celebrate 10 years of marriage. Maybe it's because Owen will turn 8 and be baptized. Maybe it's because Andrew and I are seriously discussing how big we want our family to be, and the realization that my years of having babies are most likely coming to a close. Or maybe, it's because I'm finally realizing just how quickly time goes by and how even more quickly my kids are growing up. I was thinking the other day that we only have 10 or so years left with Owen at home. That might still seem like a lot, but 7 and 1/2 have already gone by.

I recently came across the following words by Erma Bombeck, reaffirming my realization that the time with our children really is so short.

One of these days you'll explode and shout to the kids, "Why don't you grow up and act your age?"

......and they will.

Or, "You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do. And don't slam the door!"
......and they don't.

You'll straighten up the boys' bedroom neat and tidy -- bumper stickers discarded, bedspread tucked and smooth, toys displayed on the shelves. Hangers in the closet. Animals caged. And you'll say out loud, "Now I want it to stay this way.''

.......and it will.

You'll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces in the icing, and you'll say, "Now, there's a meal for company.''

.....and you'll eat it alone.

You'll say: "I want complete privacy on the phone. No dancing around. No demolition crews. Silence! Do your hear?''

.....and you'll have it.

No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti.
No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms.
No more gates to stumble over at the top of the basement steps.
No more clothespins under the sofa.
No more playpens to arrange a room around.
No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent.
No more sand on the sheets or Popeye movies in the bathrooms.
No more iron-on-patches, wet, knotted shoestrings, tight boots, or rubber bands for ponytails.
Imagine. A lipstick with a point on it.
No babysitter for New Year's Eve.
Washing only once a week.
Seeing a steak that isn't ground.
Having your teeth cleaned without a baby on your lap.
No PTA meetings. No carpools. No blaring radios. No one washing her hair at 11 o'clock at night.
Having your own roll of Scotch tape.
No more dandelion bouquets.
Think about it. No more Christmas presents out of toothpicks and library paste.
No more sloppy oatmeal kisses. No more tooth fairy. No giggles in the dark.
No knees to heal, no responsibility.
Only a voice crying out, "Why don't you grow up?''

...and the silence echoing,

"I did."

My resolution for 2011: Become more of a purposeful mother, have a plan, create moments that give my children "sparkly eyes" and be in those moments with them.

Welcome 2011!