What a difference 525,600 minutes makes

I am baffled that 2011 has already come and gone. During the past year we witnessed the end of government regimes, crushing earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes and devastating floods in the Canadian prairies and back in the Philippines. To all those who suffered, or know someone who suffered, through these life-changing events, I wish a year of hope for a speedy recovery and a year of joy to spend with your family and friends.

Why did it seem that when I was a child, time did not go fast enough? At first, I wished I could be 12, as it marked the start of my teenage years. Then, 16 so that I can get my driver’s licence and how I craved to be 18, so that I can finally be an adult and do whatever I wanted. Fast-forward to today, I am now in my late 30s and can’t recall what happened to the last 16 years of my life. Foggy are my memories of my 20s. I can remember wanting to get my career started so I would get up early, stay late, collect my paycheque, buy myself something nice and then do it all over again.

Now, time goes by at the speed of sound and I keep wishing it would just slow down. Let’s stop and smell the roses as they say. What’s different now compared to when I was 20-something? Married, kids, mortgage, two cars, a dog and more kids. I feel a bit of stress coming on just thinking about it. All I can think about is how I would love to be 18 again, or even 16 so that I could have the feeling of driving for the first time again.

Nostalgia aside, I still get up earlier and go to sleep later than everyone in the house, I collect a paycheque, but I do not get to spend it on myself. Bah! Humbug! I mean, do the kids really need new clothes, or even eat for that matter?

I’m kidding of course. I see now what it means to be a parent, where the focus moves away from self and is directed to those loved ones around you. As a parent you continually wish the best for your family. Schoolyard injuries or kids calling each other names have been around forever and you accept it as a child, but as a parent, oh man! Hold me back! Let me at ’em! There isn’t a manual telling a parent what they should do in situations like this. In the end, we hope we make the right decisions and have them grow to be upstanding citizens.

The year 2011 was jam-packed for us. Our youngest started kindergarten and absolutely loves it! We have one who just got his learners licence and another who is in Grade 12. We up and moved the family outside of the hustle and bustle of city life and took residence in a community not too far away. Friendly neighbours, street fairs, an unobstructed view of miles and miles of open space from my deck. I guess all those years of getting up early and working hard is paying off. Now if only I can grow my hair back.

Dale Burgos manages the communications department for a Winnipeg school division.

Have a comment on this article? Send us your feedback