The baby is teething. The children are fighting. Your husband called and said, “Eat dinner without me”

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 go outside find yourself something to do. And don’t slam the door.” And they won’t.

You’ll straighten their bedrooms all neat and tidy, toys displayed on the shelf, hangers in the closet, animals caged.

You’ll yell, “Now, I want it to stay that way.” And it will

You’ll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn’t had the olives all picked out and a cake with no finger tracings and you’ll say, “Now, this is a dinner for company.” And you’ll eat it alone.

You’ll yell, “I want complete privacy on the phone. No screaming. Do you hear me?” And no one will answer.

No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti. No more dandelion bouquets. No more iron-on patches. No more wet, knotted shoelaces, muddy boots or rubber bands for ponytails.

Imagine a lipstick with a point. No baby sitting for New Years Eve, washing clothes only once a week, no PTA or silly school plays where your child is a tree. No more carpools, blaring stereos or forgotten lunch money.

No more Christmas presents made of library paste and toothpicks. No more giggles in the dark, scraped knees to kiss or sticky fingers to clean.

Only a voice asking, “Why don’t you grow up?” And the silence echoes, “I did.”

Isn’t that one so very true? And didn’t those years just fly? Now, after they come home for a visit, the house is so empty when they leave.

Please pray for the children. Their lives can be tough theses days.