Things We Leave Behind

One lonely glove.

Hanging from the online pickup sign at the grocery store.

It had one of those clips on it that you buy so your kids don't lose their gloves.

Oh the irony!

I thought about that mom who tried so hard to make sure that glove wouldn't get lost.

That was probably the third or fourth pair she's had to replace already.

I feel you, momma, I feel you!

Seeing that glove brought back a wave of memories from when my boys were little.

All the winter mornings getting them bundled up for school.

The arguments over snow pants and boots and hats and gloves.

The tears of frustration and the sighs of relief when they didn't miss the bus.

The joy and the fear and the pride and the worry that comes with being a parent.

And all the things we left behind throughout their childhood.

Of course there were the physical things - hats, gloves, sweatshirts, even shoes sometimes.

But there has been so much more that changed along the way too.

Those wobbly, toddler steps that gave way to strong legs that carried them through more than their fair share of struggles.

The sweet little boy voices that have morphed into the voices of men in a way that still blows my mind when I hear them.

Gone is the hesitance to try something new, with the need to look back to see if I'm there or to hold my hand.

This year, both of them will be chronologically adults, literally and figuratively leaving their childhoods behind.

To say it is bittersweet is an understatement.

It's funny how just seeing that one lonely glove can transport me through an entire lifetime of memories.

How my heart nearly bursts when I look at them now and see how far they've come.

There are days when I would give anything to hear their little boy voices and snuggle those tiny creatures again.

Days that it hurts my heart to think about all we've left behind.

But most days I'm grateful.

Grateful for the amazing men they have become.

And for the lifetime of memories still to be made.

It's been one heck of a journey.

To that mom whose child left their glove at the grocery store that day...

I hope you didn't get too upset about it.

I hope you chalked it up to yet another typical moment raising kids.

But most of all, I hope you took a few moments amidst the chaos to pause and breathe.

And cherish all the things we leave behind.

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