The house was finally quiet as I walked into the bathroom to deal with the aftermath of three children all vying to look in the tiny mirror while they brush their teeth. And as I wiped the toothpaste off the basin, the wall and finally the shower screen I saw something that made me laugh.
I’m not sure why but I suddenly imagined the front page of the paper with the headline, “Crocodile Eats Giant Grasshopper” and I may just have giggled out loud.
I didn’t rescue the grasshopper from the jaws of his (or her) enemy. I didn’t even pick them up to save them from being stepped on by the next person to bath or shower. Instead, I did something I always mean to do but never actually get around to… I went and got my camera and took a photo.
Yes, our bath is filthy, and the light was ridiculously bad, and the flash way too strong… but I’m trying to remember that those things are not important.
It is much more important to remember the moment. The moment that made me laugh out loud in a quiet house. The moment that made me think of how crazy, quirky and funny my kids are.
The moment that I realised that life is whizzing past me way too fast and that soon there will be no more crocodiles and grasshoppers in my bath. Soon the blue stained, ancient, cast iron bath will be gone. One day even the four kids painting the walls with tooth paste will also be gone.
Why don’t I stop and remember these moments more often?
Why don’t I realise how important these every day things are?
I spend so much time trying to decide what to make for dinner, or remembering which day to send the violins to school. I’m always rushing from one activity to another and I am so guilty of wishing our days away.
I spend so much time wondering how to achieve the perfect life, when if I’d just stop for a moment, and notice the crocodile eating the grasshopper I’d realise I already have it.
Beautiful. And true.
We have a rubbery lizard (a gift from my stepmother) that our small boy taunts our cats with, leaves in our shoes and will take with him to restaurants – and as much as I detest this lizard (you would too – it’s spectacularly ugly) it provides us with so many of those lovely moments that I will treasure it forever!
why is it always the crazy reptiles that the kids love??? LOL
I have moments like these occasionally – I especially love it if I am in a bit of a stressed/cranky mood and I catch something that the kids have done that makes me laugh or smile and my whole morning/day is turned around :) <3
that’s exactly it… I was all cranky about the toothpaste mess and then was suddenly reminded that my kids are fabulous funny creatures, even if they do make our entire bathroom minty fresh!
Ha ha! That’s awesome. I would be laughing out loud too. These little moments are the best in the world!
Love it. A photo like that can keep you smiling for days.
Thanks Kate. So so true. Our life is *perfect* too. In all its imperfections. I forget it everyday.
haha, funny kids ! These days are very important !! Im trying to remember this lots lately, as I yell at my son to hurry up and get dressed, and get caught up in how stressed Im feeling.
it’s so hard to find that balance… I wish we didn’t seem to rush so much but there are some places we really need to be on time and my girls don’t cope well if we are late…. but some days I feel like we are rushing so much, cramming so much into our days, that we are missing the time to notice the important bits!
Bahahhhahahahahhahaa that’s awesome XD
I’m not sure if you’re familiar with the NT News at all, but it wouldn’t suprise me at all to see that headline on their front page!
I can’t believe I missed this post. What an eloquently written piece. I just love it. I will now remember crocodile eats grasshopper to stop my kids disappearing before my eyes, well at least for a minute or two. xx
Such a lovely post Kate – so true. It’s all going by so fast (I’m sure that’s why we keep having more!!)
xxxCate
This is a beautiful post. I actually read it yesterday and didn’t even know what to say because it puts into words so well how I often feel but have a hard time living out. Time just goes so fast and before you know it, they are grown and there are no more Legos to step on or dirty marks on the walls.
Thanks for the really kind comment you left on my blog.