It feels like time has a way of quietly hitting the fast-forward button when you’re raising kids. One day you’re walking them into kindergarten, and before you know it, you’re talking about grad photos and university applications. That’s where I’m at now. I still catch myself shaking my head when I say it out loud — my oldest is graduating high school this year, and my youngest just started high school. How did that happen so quickly?
My oldest hasn’t laced up his skates in a couple of years. His life shifted gears — a part-time job, some independence, making his own money. Hockey was replaced with real-world responsibilities, and I’m proud of him for it. But it also means those evenings in the arena, watching him fly down the ice, are already memories.
Meanwhile, my youngest is playing with the U15 AA Sask East Oilers this season. Last night, sitting in the penalty box watching warm-ups, I caught myself thinking: He’s already played one season more than his brother… and I don’t know how many I have left to enjoy. It hit me harder than expected. These moments aren’t endless. They feel like they are when you’re busy — but they’re not.
I know a lot of parents complain about the constant running. Always at the rink, the ball field, the pool, the dance studio — always another practice, another game, another tournament. I’ve done that too. It can be exhausting. But sitting there last night, I realized something important: someday I will miss this chaos. I will miss carrying gear, rushing to warm-ups, sitting on uncomfortable arena benches, and chatting with other parents over burnt coffee.
There will come a time when I’m not driving anyone to practice. When there’s no schedule taped to the fridge. When there are no more tournaments, no more weekend road trips, no more noisy locker rooms. And I know I’ll look back and wish I could do just one more of them.
Sometimes we just need to pause and be grateful. Not for the trophies or the goals, but for the moments — the early mornings, the long drives, the late-night meals on the way home. Because those are the seasons we’ll remember long after the jerseys are packed away.
So here’s a reminder to myself, and maybe to anyone else who needs to hear it: sit back and enjoy what you have while you have it. These days don’t last forever… and that’s exactly why they’re worth cherishing.
@gx94radio How I spend my evenings, and wouldn’t change it. -Danny #fyp #hockey #winterevenings #oilers
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