I’m a bit nostalgic—this week our “baby” turned nine. Whether your little one is three months or thirty years old, as parents we can’t help but think, “Where does the time go?” It seems like he was just a newborn…a toddler…a preschooler. We have another nine years of homeschooling ahead; but if they go at the rate of the last nine, I’ll be writing an “empty nest” blog in no time.

So how to deal with the conflicting emotions that accompany these wonderful, waning years of nurturing our children to adulthood?

Cherish each stage. Every step in the journey has its own blessings and challenges. So thank God for where you are. Rather than yearning for bygone baby years (or wishing oneself out of the diaper—or teenage—stage), we can fully enjoy this day with our children.

Take lots of pictures. Not a very philosophical suggestion, but a practical one. Contrary to conventional wisdom, our last-born was photographed at least as often as his five siblings. When our older children were young, I tended to focus on events; with later offspring, I spent more time recording the everyday joys. In either case, looking through old photo albums is a favorite family pastime.

Optimize the opportunity to homeschool.   As both parents and teachers, we have an open door to truly know and understand our children.  Our families are blessed with many hours laughing, learning, and working together.  Let’s use them wisely to disciple our children, to hone their minds and their talents for God’s future purposes.

Hold lightly the treasures God has entrusted to us. As we become more aware of the increasing brevity of our time together in the home, it’s easy to tighten our grip on our children—emotionally, if not physically. But the truth is, they were never truly “ours” in the first place. God has graciously given us the awesome responsibility and precious blessing of parenthood. May we never abuse His trust or hinder His work by clinging too tightly to our children. The greatest gift we can give them is to, with His help, prepare them to love and serve Him and then joyfully release them to fulfill His purpose for their lives.

For those of us who have already launched children into adulthood, it’s easy to look back tearfully and sigh for what has gone before.

“However, as it is written:
   ‘No eye has seen,
      no ear has heard,
   no mind has conceived
   what God has prepared for those who love him.’”  I Corinthians 2:9

That promise is for us and for our children. When these wonder years have passed, God has even more in store.