Not so long ago, I wished for things to pass more quickly:<\/p>\n
The nights of teething.
\nThe days when I wanted them to:
\nStart being independent:
\nSit,
\nWalk,
\nEat.<\/p>\n
It feels like just recently I really wanted
\nthem to fall asleep faster.
\nFor the lullaby or bedtime story not to drag on too long.
\nFor them to play on their own.
\nTo learn to handle a spoon and fork by themselves.
\nTo start talking and tell me what they want, instead of bursting into tears when I couldn\u2019t guess.
\nTo start going to kindergarten \/ school sooner.
\nTo be able to dress themselves.
\nPut on their shoes.
\nTidy up their things.<\/p>\n
For so long, I wanted \u201cfaster.\u201d
\nAnd now suddenly, everything has come full circle.
\nNow I want \u201cslower.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stay, beautiful moment\u2014
\nwhen they come and hug you.
\nWhen they climb onto your lap like little bears.
\nWhen their not-so-little arms still wrap around you.
\nWhen, in a childlike way, they answer your \u201cI love you\u201d with \u201cI love you more.\u201d
\nWhen they can fall asleep without stories, but still gladly listen to them\u2014
\nor tell them to each other.<\/p>\n
Stay, beautiful moment\u2014
\nwhen they still greet every suggestion of a family trip with wild excitement.<\/p>\n
They:
\nPick mushrooms,
\nPick berries,
\nFish,
\nSwim\u2014
\nTogether.<\/p>\n
When they believe in you unconditionally
\nand want to be \u201clike Mom\u201d or \u201clike Dad.\u201d
\nWhen they don\u2019t yet have role models you yourself don\u2019t believe in or question.
\nWhen they become friends to one another\u2026<\/p>\n
And suddenly, without even noticing,
\nyou feel a BIG, ROUND FEAR in your heart\u2014
\nthat when \u201cfaster\u201d ends,
\nand \u201cslower\u201d passes\u2026
\nyou no longer know what comes \u201cnext.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stay, beautiful moment,
\nand just be.<\/p>\n
V.<\/p>\n
And now, the \u201creal deal\u201d:<\/p>\n
I\u2019m showing the kids photos dug up from my phone archive.<\/p>\n
\u2014Look, Do!
\n\u2014Yeah\u2026 what\u2019s this?
\n\u2014You!
\n\u2014Me??? And who am I hugging here? My sister????
\nSeriously?<\/p>\n
He brings the phone close to his nose and starts shouting:
\n\u2014Patrikai, Patrikai, look how yoooou\u2026 like your \u201clittle doll\u201d!!!<\/p>\n
I\u2019d like to think we don\u2019t age.
\nBut looking at them, I understand\u2014
\nwe actually do.<\/p>\n
Now it\u2019s really the end.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-13767","istorija","type-istorija","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/viktorijos.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/istorija\/13767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/viktorijos.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/istorija"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/viktorijos.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/istorija"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/viktorijos.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}