17 Years to Go

I had a stressful afternoon yesterday. I woke up and immediately began doing things for my children: making breakfast, changing a diaper, picking out clothing, doing laundry, changing another diaper, stocking my diaper bag for an outing, etc. After story time and a lovely visit to a friend's house for lunch, we came home.

I asked my two older children to head upstairs so I could have a minute to myself. Not to do anything fun, mind you, but to pick up the house and begin packing for our long weekend trip in silence. The entire time they were supposed to be giving me a few minutes, they were screaming, playing on the stairs, and doing everything but giving me the quiet I had requested...that I needed. And now I know why...according to a new British study, our children will not appreciate us until they're 22 (think it's a coincidence that's the average age a child graduates from college and is on their own?).

I'm in no way suggesting we all sit, loathing our roles as parents for 17 years (that's how long I have until my firstborn turns 22). After all, there are glimmers of hope of an early arrival. Just the day before yesterday, as my children and I headed home from the store, my son said, "Mommy, thank you for my Star Wars Lego set," and my daughter instantly chirped in, "Mommy, thank you too for my Lego Star Wars."

I suppose I'm writing to suggest that we hold on a bit longer when we get the thank you hugs and focus on those small signs of gratitude. And that we lead by example. And perhaps thank our own parents for all they gave and did for us. Thank you Mom. Thank you Dad.

To read more about the study, visit upi.com.