They Grow Up So Fast

"Time only seems to matter when it's running out"
-Peter Strup

They really do. I spent last week babysitting my seven year old cousin, in the week between when school ends and camp begins. Yes, it was utterly exhausting, and at times (very) frustrating, but I would not trade it for the world.

I spent much time watching TV shows and playing games I would never play myself. She's into Hannah Montana, iCarly, Polly Pocket, and all that other lovely pop culture stuff for kids her age. But as I sat there playing It's In The Money or watching iCarly with her, I realized that I probably do not have very much time left in which to do this with her. She is seven, and getting older each day. In a few years, she probably will not want to hang out with her "older" cousin, or spend time with me. She will want to go off and be with her own friends and do her own thing. It won't be cool to be dragged around by seen with her older cousin, and I cannot blame her.

But it did make me realize that it is the same situation with all of my other cousins, all ten of them. They range in ages from four months to twelve years old, and while I may still have time with the younger ones, truth is, time flies. We all know that. And life gets in the way, theirs and mine. So, I decided that for now, I am just going to cherish the time I do have with them, and if when that day comes where they do not want to hang out with me, I will (hopefully) accept it, and remember that I was once their age and felt the same way they do.