I think every mother or father has heard the saying, “You’re gonna miss this when they are grown.” It doesnt matter if you’re telling them about having to dig an embedded Lego out of your foot, it seems as though as a parent, if you dare complain, someone inevitably tells you that you’re gonna miss it. Yes, I know, babies grow into children, and children into teenagers, and teenagers into adults WAY to fast. My first baby is currently a legal adult, and I do miss him being little. The things I miss with my older kids are probably the very same things that I’ll miss with my younger kids. I’ll miss the giggles. I’ll miss the hugs and kisses (sugars). I’ll miss the snuggles and the smiles on Christmas morning, and the looks of them seeing the beach for the first time. I’ll miss the cute little outfits, and how precious they look when they sleep. I’ll miss watching them run around the yard playing together completely carefree. I’ll miss tucking them in at night, brushing their hair, and how sweet they smell after a bath. I’ll miss kissing them before they leave for school and hearing all about their day when they get home. There are so many other things I know that I’m forgetting, and though this list is long, there is also a long list of things that I won’t miss. Why are we made to feel as though we should cherish breaking our toes on a dump truck that we asked them 50 times to pick up? I wont miss that at all. I wont miss sitting on the couch and having to stand up to pull a set of toy keys out of my butt. I won’t miss finding cups half full of spoiled milk under the seat of my car. I will also not miss the chaos of the evenings while trying to cook dinner, occupy 3 boys, make plates, make sure they eat, give them baths, clean up the tsunami caused by said baths, putting tight pajamas on damp bodies as they cry because their arms are stuck, picking up food that obviously didnt meet their approval so they threw it in the floor, rushing to this practice or that parent meeting, playing paper, rock, scissors over who is staying home from work when one of them is sick, and refolding laundry for the 10th time because they keep knocking over the stacks that you’ve already folded. I will not miss never being able to just “run” into a store or to a doctor’s appointment or even take a phone call. I will not miss buying 6 gallons of milk a week, or the meltdowns that take place should the milk supply run out prematurely. I wll not miss looking forward to a relaxing bath, only to have to move spiderman and his posse out of my way and rinse the dirt out of the bottom of the tub before I can get in. (I would opt for a shower, but there’s a huge toy tow truck in there.) And I will definitely not miss the 3-4 loads of laundry a day that I have to do because my boys like to play in the mud, water, and sand, and apparently have to change clothes between each activity. I love being a mother. I love my large family. I love each one of these kids with all of my being. I cherish every moment of their childhood and make as many memories as possible. However, lets be real. There are things that I just won’t miss. I’m currently looking at a cup full of SAND on my table. I won’t miss that. Basically, parents shouldn’t have to feel guilty for complaining about being overwhelmed every now and then. I realize that when someone tells you, “you’re going to miss this”, it’s with the best intentions, but sometimes, I just want to look at them with my most serious face and say, “No, Becky. I most definitely will NOT miss this. I wont miss this at all!”, and I think that’s a perfectly acceptable response.

*Included are some random pictures just from right now that I honestly dont think I’ll miss. Ever.