A while back I was scrolling through my Instagram feed and saw a photo-quote post that I really liked. You know, the kind that you see and can’t stop thinking about? One that sticks with you for days, even weeks? Yeah…that kind of post.

It was a simple graphic of some rocks and the words:

While I’m not a Mom, the sentiment hit me right in the heart. As the Hectic kids were growing up, we found two sorts of things in the laundry that shouldn’t have been there: Rocks and Flowers. Both wreaked havoc on our equipment, but the kind of havoc that I wouldn’t trade for the world. The dents in the dryer and the flower petals all over the place were a small price to pay for the joy and the memories that those items had created. My girls loved to pick flowers. It didn’t matter whether they were roses or dandelions, the girls loved to bring flowers into the house. In the same way, the boys would find interesting rocks and save them for later viewing. As luck would have it, those flowers and rocks often made their way into the laundry.

I’ll admit, there were times when I would be folding a load of laundry and see the rocks and flowers and get frustrated. I would be bothered by the fact that I hadn’t checked the kids’ pockets closely enough. Sometimes the flowers would require that a load be re-run. That was irritating in the moment. But let’s face it, I’m sitting here, many years later and longing for some more rocks and flowers in the laundry. I miss the days when the kids were young and the world was a wondrous place to them.

I’m lucky, because I’m getting a second chance at being a full-time care-giver. I revel in the fact that I get to spend much of my day with Hectic Grandson. We frequently take walks down our quarter-mile driveway…and he regularly picks up rocks to show me. I don’t always see what’s so special about a particular rock, but he patiently shows me his treasure…and sometimes they even get saved in his hand or pocket. And sure enough, some of those rocks make it into the laundry.

This time around, I don’t just stack them up on the dryer, awaiting the next opportunity to toss them back on the driveway. In my newfound wisdom, I put them in his safekeeping box. A box we created so he can review his treasures and tell me all about them. Sure, he’s only two and his vocabulary isn’t all that expansive. Most of the time he’ll say something like, “Papa, this is rock”. But the look on his face and the gleam in his eyes expresses more than words could ever convey. He has made a discovery, and he’s sharing it with me.

Talk about pulling my heartstrings.

So my wish for you is, as your kids do silly little things, collect all kinds of junk, and sometimes send that stuff through the dryer…remember, these days won’t last for long. The world will lose it’s luster for your young ones. Don’t be the one who takes the shine off their world!

Make it a great day!

To give credit where it’s due, the awesome photo-quote that sparked this post is from HashtagLifeWithBoys on Instagram. If you’re on Instagram seriously consider following these two amazing ladies. They have great stuff!