If we believe in the current life expectancy charts we can hope to live for 80 years. This is a very nice number. But when we have children, we are only given 18 years to enjoy them. This is also if we have been blessed by the Lord to get to raise our children until they are adults. Some families have to deal with tragedies within their world sadly. that is only 22.5% of OUR life. If you keep in mind that we spent 22.5% of our life being children that still leave us with 55% of our lives of not being a child or raising our children. (This is also if you only have 1 child or if you have twin or triplets or a BUNCH of kids at one single time.)
This is the time we get with each child, if our Lord God allows us.
18 Years
or
6570 Day
or
157680 Hours
This is a very "rough" visualization of what we do in a day
With this chart you have to remember that within that time for "family" you still have other obligations and responsibilities so it cuts into that time with your family.
This is also a "rough" visualization for what I had to do in my "family" time.
That precious 8 hours of "family time" got cut down to just 3 hours, if that!
I have realized recently that the time with my daughter is short and fleeting. I want to enjoy my time with my daughter. Yes, she does get that back cringing "whine" going at times; at the same time I know I'm not going to miss those wonderful and awe inspiring moments that only she gives me on a daily basis.
For instance:
Yesterday on our way to the Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City for a "field trip", I popped in the Pre-K Level 1 disk from Hooked on Phonics into the DVD player. I enjoyed her singing the songs, I joined in as well. When we were driving by the Garden City airport she tells me "Mommy! I know the letter of "Zoo!" So I replied skeptically, "You do? What are they?" She told me, "Z-O-O!" It was just one of those moments I am glad I got to share with her!
I want to relish in my knowledge that this gift from God is mine and remember that when He's ready to call her back home He can. I want to enjoy the time He allows me to be with her and not spend it chasing a dollar or allowing others to teach her what I should be teaching her.
