Wow. One of my kids is celebrating a birthday today and it doesn't seem so long ago that I was pregnant with the child. Yet, here I am about to have a third. Does that mean the next few years are going to fly?

I do all I can to appreciate a child at every age, every day... yet, time still flies. Even with down days... time, you know.

Yet, I remember when I was a kid myself -- that days in school were long and dull... summer vacation was fun at first, but got old fast and I complained of boredom. HA! I should have appreciated those days more since I don't have time to be bored. But, when you're that age -- you only think about how you feel at the moment. If it's boredom -- you're moping and complaining to mom and dad. You're not thinking about how you'll be busier than heck when you are all grown up.

Last night, I was checking with hubby to see if he was taking our daughter to school because of her project. He replied, “Yes, but she doesn't want me to. She wants to ride the bus.”

“Why?!?!”

“She is embarrassed by me.”

<cough, cough, gag, gag, shock, shock> I couldn't believe it. She isn't even in 5th grade yet and already she has the I-don't-wanna-be-seen-with-my-parents-itis?? I looked at her and I told her that's typical of a kid in middle school not at her age... appreciate being a kid. You're an adult far longer than a kid.

Unbelievable. I'm not trying to make her grow up faster. I don't give her responsibilities that she doesn't need. She needs to enjoy being a kid. I even have to make her stop mothering her little brother.

What is it about today's times that just makes kids waste their youth?