To The Woman With The Neon Sign

For the first time in 15 years I won’t be a mom with a neon sign hanging from my rear view mirror.

{Deep Sigh}

I remember not so long ago:

• Wishing for the day when I didn’t have shove books in a bookbag at 7:15 am
• Yelling out, “I told you get your things together last night”
• Rushing to grab the science report from the printer
• Turning the car around to retrieve the forgotten poster
• Not turning the car around to retrieve the forgotten lunch thinking “maybe this will teach them to remember.”
• Lecturing on purpose of personal hygiene
• Wondering by the lesson on personal hygiene was heeded
• Hanging on the bumper of the car in front of me going too slow
• Lecturing on the importance of schedules and being on times
• Apologizing and asking for forgiveness because I lost my cool, again
• Signing permission slips at the stoplight
• Writing checks and order forms for the book fair in drop off line
• Fussing at the parent in front of me because it was the end of September and they still hadn’t figure out the exit and entrance routine
• Waiting for the train, praying we wouldn’t be late
• Praying for the tests, the teachers, and the mean kids in the class

I remember.

To the momma or daddy with the neon sign hanging from your rearview mirror… embrace every single minute of your years in carline and all the ones in between. They fled fast. You can’t get them back. Know that you will mess up. You will fuss at those babies and they will forget the project, lunch, and yes, even the entire book bag but from a momma who doesn’t have a neon sign hanging from her rearview mirror let me say, “This too will pass. All of it.” And it will pass all too quickly.

So this year make the decision to embrace every minute. Find something to say nice to say, a reason to compliment, or give a hug for no reason at all.

Every
Minute
Build
Relationships
And
Consistently
Encourage

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. Psalm 127:3 (NLT)