"How long is it gonna TAKE!?"

One day in the car it was raining, and PJ was quiet. Sometimes my kids play with toys in the car, and sometimes they surprisingly don't ever ask or pick one out from the basket before climbing into their carseats (Shrugs). This was one of those times where they were just quietly looking out the window (yes, I'm serious). Out of nowhere PJ starts to sing! An adorable little ABC and then "Days of the Week" song. I quietly listen because any attention drawn to said song will cause him to become embarrassed and IMMEDIATELY stop. But finally I ask where he learned it (school) and if he could sing it again for me.

"No, Mama. I only sing at school. And say the pledge aweegance."

"You know the Pledge of Allegiance!?" I was actually shocked - he was barely 3 at the time. (Is that normal? Or do I have a genius kid? Yep for sure genius kid.) "Can you say that for me?"

"No, Mama. I only do dat at SCHOOL."

"Oh, uh alright!" Obviously. Because how dare I ask him to recite the most recognizable mantra of our country that he of course just HAPPENS to know!

Then here it comes -

"How long is it gonna TAKEEEEE!?" That is PJ's favorite phrase currently (allbeit sometimes an acceptable question to ask) and he uses it for EVERYTHING. Cooking dinner. Getting dressed. Going potty. Anytime I ask him to do something. Anytime I mention something even remotely exciting coming up. Driving in the car. Etc. He will say it with excitement, attitude, yell it, whisper it, stomp his foot - he will do it ALL.

"Almost there, buddy."

PJ goes back to looking out the window at the rain, and I can't help but think of when I used to do the same as a kiddo. Absentmindedly looking outside, oblivious to traffic around me, watching 2 raindrops race each other down the window, and only worrying about "how long its gonna take" to get to our destination. Now as a mom, I worry about every second leading up to that, and every second after! Safety, drinks for kids, snacks for kids, shoes, extra clothes, extra time for big feelings, extra diapers and wipes, emotional support stuffy, my pursekeyswalletphone, gas in the tank, directions, time needed to get there, traffic, nap time, meals while we are away, etc.

I started to think about something we have in common with kids - our skewed sense of time. As kids, time felt like it took forever. We wished it away! Couldn't wait to move to the next grade, get a phone, sit in the front seat, drive, go to college, have a family, etc. But as adults, we are confused how time is going so fast and how to make it stop (can we ACTUALLY discuss how it is July of 2025? Where the hell did JanuaryFeburaryMarchAprilMayJune of 2021 go!? Like seriously hang on I haven't caught up yet.)

Sometimes I look at my children and they are still tiny babies - drooly messy faces, super clumsy, doe-eyed little things. And other times they come up with saying things like the frickin "pledge aweegance." I really wasn't prepared for that - to want them to stay so little, but also get frustrated sometimes and irrationally wish they understood life like little adults.

It was maybe only going to take another 10 minutes to get to our destination, but "How long is it gonna take" for my kids to not need me anymore? I don't really want to find out, and I wish I could make it stop.

xoxo

Madi