Shit, man. The line about silence having a heavy sound is going to live in my head rent free for weeks. I moan about the mess daily, but you're so right that it's just proof life is happening in this house. Ha. Thanks for writing this!
Just remember. One day the kids will be gone and you will be able to keep your house as clean as you want it to be. And you will miss the mess terribly. I used to get so stressed out about it. Now it doesn’t bother me at all.
My oldest son will be 17 on Friday. I never even imagined when they were younger getting to this point. I knew I would be it’s hard to fathom it until you’re there. It’s so sad.
April, I could feel the love inside every backpack by the door, fingerprint on the glass, and LEGO brick underfoot. You give the mess a different meaning, turning the evidence of a full house into a record of childhood while it is still happening. With your oldest son’s birthday coming up, has that milestone been placing you in a more nostalgic and reflective mood lately? Thank you for writing this from such a loving place and for helping parents recognize the abundance they may one day miss while it is still underfoot.
Yes it very much has. I have one more year before my first born becomes an official adult. With all the problems we had with him since he was 5/6 this is a MASSIVE deal.
April, “MASSIVE” carries the whole history behind this birthday. Reaching seventeen after years that asked so much of him and your family turns the milestone into evidence of endurance, growth, and love that kept showing up through seasons few people could fully see. I imagine this year may hold celebration, relief, and the ache of realizing adulthood is now close enough to count. Thank you for trusting me with the weight behind this birthday and for helping me understand why it matters so deeply.
This hit home. Days move fast, minutes move faster, seconds move faster still — and somehow you don't notice until you're already missing it. "The mess is where the memories grow" is going to stay with me. Thank you for the reminder to treasure it while it's here. Carried with care!
Shit, man. The line about silence having a heavy sound is going to live in my head rent free for weeks. I moan about the mess daily, but you're so right that it's just proof life is happening in this house. Ha. Thanks for writing this!
Just remember. One day the kids will be gone and you will be able to keep your house as clean as you want it to be. And you will miss the mess terribly. I used to get so stressed out about it. Now it doesn’t bother me at all.
It's interesting how life changes the meaning of the same room.
What once looked like clutter slowly becomes evidence that people were here, living, laughing, growing.
My oldest son will be 17 on Friday. I never even imagined when they were younger getting to this point. I knew I would be it’s hard to fathom it until you’re there. It’s so sad.
I guess every parent knows it's coming,
but knowing and living it are two very different things.
This spoke to me and Im hoping that my day doesn't come to soon.
There is never enough time it seems.
Touched by the poem. Felt very real!
💗😘
April, I could feel the love inside every backpack by the door, fingerprint on the glass, and LEGO brick underfoot. You give the mess a different meaning, turning the evidence of a full house into a record of childhood while it is still happening. With your oldest son’s birthday coming up, has that milestone been placing you in a more nostalgic and reflective mood lately? Thank you for writing this from such a loving place and for helping parents recognize the abundance they may one day miss while it is still underfoot.
Yes it very much has. I have one more year before my first born becomes an official adult. With all the problems we had with him since he was 5/6 this is a MASSIVE deal.
April, “MASSIVE” carries the whole history behind this birthday. Reaching seventeen after years that asked so much of him and your family turns the milestone into evidence of endurance, growth, and love that kept showing up through seasons few people could fully see. I imagine this year may hold celebration, relief, and the ache of realizing adulthood is now close enough to count. Thank you for trusting me with the weight behind this birthday and for helping me understand why it matters so deeply.
OMG, April, that was amazing!!!!!
Thank you so much. Truly. I have 100s of poems. I’ve been writing poems since I was 15.
You're welcome and I will be reading more 😊
This hit home. Days move fast, minutes move faster, seconds move faster still — and somehow you don't notice until you're already missing it. "The mess is where the memories grow" is going to stay with me. Thank you for the reminder to treasure it while it's here. Carried with care!
Your poem made me smile and ache at the same time. As my own nest empties, I'm realising that love rarely looks tidy while we're living it. X