The Daily Post weekly photo challenge: Reflections inspired me to post twice on the topic this week!

While I was perusing my photo library looking for the Balboa Park photos I submitted here, I couldn’t help but be faced with the obvious fact that my baby girls are growing up Way.Too.Fast. It’s so convenient having all my photos cataloged in Lightroom, but it’s a rude awakening to see how quickly life changes  when you’re able to skim through seven years of images in just minutes!

Truth be told, parenting is incredibly hard. Anyone who has parented for more than a second understands that. My husband constantly points out how shocking it is that our world population is over 7 billion, considering how challenging it is to be a parent! But no matter how difficult it is, my girls are the best things that have ever happened to me, right up there with falling in love with my hubby. Even though they test me daily (my 7-yr old and I even joke that she’s a button-pusher), they don’t listen (how many times do I have to remind them to put away their shoes? or dirty clothes in the hamper?), they get distracted all.the.time (I have no idea where they get… oh no, I forgot to run the dishwasher and I need to get a load of laundry going, too… oh look at that pretty flower in the yard, I should get a photo… yeah, they get it from me!); they dilly dally all the time (seriously, 7 and 4 year olds shouldn’t take half an hour to wash up and get dressed every morning!), even though there are things that drive me nuts daily, I still wouldn’t trade being their Mommy for anything in the whole wide world.

They genuinely make me want to be a better person. They make me appreciate what we have instead of bemoaning what we don’t have. They make me see the funny in everyday moments. They make me dance and play and sing and chase. They make me silly sometimes and not so serious all the time. They remind me that life is precious and not be taken for granted, especially when I take a step back from the everyday insanity and see how little they are, even though their personalities make them seem to big. Their curiosity makes me want to know more so we can constantly grow. Their imaginations and playfulness get me to use funny voices and play characters for days at a time. They make me thankful to God for choosing me to be their mother. They make me open myself to God’s guidance to be the mommy He needs me to be to these precious girls. They make me grateful to be alive!

So why am I sharing this? Because in the busyness of everyday, sometimes it’s hard to remember what we’re thankful for. Today’s challenge was more than a photo prompt for me, it’s served as a catalyst to do just that — to reflect on the goodness in being a parent.

Thanks to the Daily Post and Ben of Flights.Camera.Satisfaction. in particular for challenging me to reflect on the many levels of parenting and dig a little deeper! So.Totally.Worth.It! Have you taken the time to reflect?

As always, thanks for stopping by. Have a joyful, creative, blessing filled day!
Live creatively!
xoxo,
/c

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