In The Blink Of An Eye

Don’t know that Time by The Alan Parson’s Project is the right song to accompany this moment but it is what is playing and I don’t see a need burning need to change it.

Won’t be but a moment longer before iTunes moves onto the next song and who knows what that song will make me think about.

Maybe it will be another song by them, maybe it will be Sirius and it will remind me of how it was the Chicago Bull’s Theme and I’ll picture Michael Jordan walking into the stadium.

And I’ll remember how dominant he was and how much I loved watching him play and think about how I have heard young people today talk about how LeBron is better than Jordan and shake my head because they never saw him live and they just don’t understand.

Time can be a bitter and cruel master, as unforgiving and yet as compassionate as they come.

In The Blink Of An Eye

Saturday morning my son and I chased each other around the soccer fields for a while until I just couldn’t run anymore.

I sat down to rest and watched as he practiced his footwork and thought about how quickly ten years has passed. The thing is, ten years isn’t the entirety of his life anymore, it is just how long he has been playing organized soccer.

The small boy whose jersey was too big has hands and feet that are almost as big as my own. They remind me a bit of a puppy who hasn’t grown into his paws yet.

He doesn’t like when I say that so forget I mentioned it here.

After I caught my breath I got back up and stole the ball when he wasn’t looking and gave it a solid kick because I knew the only way I was going to get away was in a dead sprint.

Didn’t really matter because it only took him a moment to catch up and tell me he was ready to go home, but unlike days past he didn’t need me to take him.

That big kid only needed his ball and however long it would take to walk home.

I watched as he passed the parking lot and realized in a year or so he’ll be driving and then I really wondered where the time went.

Time can be a bitter and cruel master, as unforgiving and yet as compassionate as they come.Click To Tweet

Somewhere in between the moments he left the park and the time it took for my daughter’s game to finish it hit me that I really need to start doing some research into what the current laws are for getting a license and that I need to start thinking about getting a car for him.

He is not going to get a car just because he is of age and it won’t be anything fancy either but it wouldn’t hurt for him to have one.

It wouldn’t hurt for him to be able to get himself to and from places or to be able to help out by running errands.

There was a night not long after he was born where I held him like a football and talked to him about life and promised to do my best to take care of him and talked about all of the things I would try to teach him.

It had all of the usual stuff including throwing a baseball, how to shave and how to drive, but I never thought the day would come so quickly.

Never believed it would come barreling at me at breakneck speed and that all of the old people who told me that time moved quickly were right.

And now that I can see the moment approaching in the distance I remember how crazy I was as a teen and wonder what the hell adults were thinking when they let us get driver’s licenses.

Fortunately my son is far more reserved and cautious about some things than I was, but it is not just him I worry about. It is all of the other drivers and the memories of all of the stupid crap we did as teenagers.

They are great stories now, mainly because we were the lucky ones.

And so I repeat that what I fear as a parent isn’t so much the rapists, pedophiles and bad people of the world as much as I worry about the bad judgment of teens.

I will stick to my belief that we can’t keep the kids enclosed in bubble wrap and remind myself that statistically speaking the population of the world is not shrinking.

But it doesn’t mean occasionally I won’t stop and wonder how time passed in the blink of an eye. Yeah it is cliche, but it is so very true.

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By Joshua Wilner

Hi, I am Josh Wilner and I am happy that you have decided to visit my corner of cyberspace. I am a writer/marketer/friend and family man. My professional background includes more than twenty years in working with businesses to help them do a better job of connecting with their existing and prospective customers. More specifically I have worked with companies of all sizes from the Fortune 500 to the new start up to help them build, develop and grow their social media and marketing plans. I love spending time with my family and friends. I enjoy music, reading, writing, playing sports and laughing.

8 comments

  1. Hi mate,

    Another great post, and so relevant. Yesterday, my five year old son did his first grading at his Tae Kwon Do class, and got his yellow belt. As part of that, he broke his first board. His reaction to that was priceless – it was like, “Wow, I have all this power in my hand?”

    For me, it was a double reaction – laughter at his face, and acknowledgement that my son is growing up. He has a ways to catch up on your son, and I’ll look to your blog for guidance on that as it comes – but knowing that he’s no longer the baby who you need to feed by hand is kinda sobering.

    Until the face in front of you makes you smile again, with the awe of what he’d just accomplished. 🙂

    Have a great weekend, mate.

    Reply
    1. TheJackB – Someone complained that this page doesn’t tell you what to expect to find here in this blog so I aim to rectify this with the next line. I am a father who writes about life, parenting, business, politics and fiction. I don’t use an editorial calendar because I don’t map out what I am going to write that far in advance. The primary focus will be on things that relate to children and parenting. But the nifty thing about that is that encompasses a wide range of things. Sometimes I work with companies on their PR/Marketing efforts. If they provide products or services I will disclose it. Here is an incomplete list of companies that I am currently or have recently worked with: Nintendo, Philips Norelco, Subway, Frigidaire and Mattel. Want to know more about me, keep reading. If I wanted to provide a professional description it would looks similar to this: Jack has a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from California State University Northridge. He has been writing for print and web publications for more than twenty years, covering a wide range of topics including: business, technology, parenting, politics, education, sports and religion. That is far too serious so I prefer to use something like: The Jack B. is a writer and author of 39 unpublished books and three screenplays. A former athlete and would be superhero he still fights for truth, justice and the American Way. Though he may look like a grown man, don’t fool yourself he is still a boy at heart. When he is not engaged in Walter Mitty like fantasies he is a husband, father and friend and blogs at TheJackB. Hmm…obviously I have since moved from Random Thoughts over to this place, but that is ok. This page is a work in progress which is a good description for me. I’ll probably tweak this on a regular basis so feel free to keep checking back in because you never know what might show up. I am a prolific writer and update frequently so don’t forget to scroll down the page to see what nugget of wisdom you just might have missed. Here is a short selection of posts to get you started. A Father Describes Parenting A Father’s Burden How Sister’s Helped to Train A Father of “Daddy’s Girl” Inside the Blogger’s Studio- A Dream, Er Nightmare The GermoPhobe What I Dream About I am In Love Becoming a Dad Dad’s Most Important Job A Decade of Dad Grandpa Donuts Why Your Post Sucks and Everyone Hates Your Blog A Letter To My Children- Things That Matter A Letter To My Children-2011 Dad Balances Fear Versus Reality Q&A With Daddy Blogger JackB Save The Last Dance For Me- 75 Years of Marriage An Uncertain Certainty Four Generations & A Wedding The Best Thing My Father Ever Said To Me 1 Foolproof Way To Become a Better Writer The Story Of A House- The Final Days He Died A Hero Twenty-Five Links That Will Make You A Better Writer/Blogger Thanks for coming by, I hope you like it. If you want to reach me use the contact form or try talk-to-jacknow-at-gmail-dotcom You can also find more information by clicking About Me and reading my profile there. Also, I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter using the form on the top right hand side of the page.
      Joshua says:

      Hi Danny,

      Those expressions of wonder and amazement are among the best things I have experienced in life, no exaggeration. There is something so potent and powerful, just authentic real and exciting to me.

      Watching them discover the world around them and learn how to figure out who they are and their place is hard at times but rewarding too.

      Sometimes I miss having young ones like yours, especially when mine act in a way that makes me wonder if they have regressed. 🙂

      H0pe your weekend is great too!

      Reply

  2. This was beautiful. Those years between murmuring over a swaddled infant and the teen years do fly mercilessly. Good luck with the milestones ahead.

    Reply
    1. TheJackB – Someone complained that this page doesn’t tell you what to expect to find here in this blog so I aim to rectify this with the next line. I am a father who writes about life, parenting, business, politics and fiction. I don’t use an editorial calendar because I don’t map out what I am going to write that far in advance. The primary focus will be on things that relate to children and parenting. But the nifty thing about that is that encompasses a wide range of things. Sometimes I work with companies on their PR/Marketing efforts. If they provide products or services I will disclose it. Here is an incomplete list of companies that I am currently or have recently worked with: Nintendo, Philips Norelco, Subway, Frigidaire and Mattel. Want to know more about me, keep reading. If I wanted to provide a professional description it would looks similar to this: Jack has a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from California State University Northridge. He has been writing for print and web publications for more than twenty years, covering a wide range of topics including: business, technology, parenting, politics, education, sports and religion. That is far too serious so I prefer to use something like: The Jack B. is a writer and author of 39 unpublished books and three screenplays. A former athlete and would be superhero he still fights for truth, justice and the American Way. Though he may look like a grown man, don’t fool yourself he is still a boy at heart. When he is not engaged in Walter Mitty like fantasies he is a husband, father and friend and blogs at TheJackB. Hmm…obviously I have since moved from Random Thoughts over to this place, but that is ok. This page is a work in progress which is a good description for me. I’ll probably tweak this on a regular basis so feel free to keep checking back in because you never know what might show up. I am a prolific writer and update frequently so don’t forget to scroll down the page to see what nugget of wisdom you just might have missed. Here is a short selection of posts to get you started. A Father Describes Parenting A Father’s Burden How Sister’s Helped to Train A Father of “Daddy’s Girl” Inside the Blogger’s Studio- A Dream, Er Nightmare The GermoPhobe What I Dream About I am In Love Becoming a Dad Dad’s Most Important Job A Decade of Dad Grandpa Donuts Why Your Post Sucks and Everyone Hates Your Blog A Letter To My Children- Things That Matter A Letter To My Children-2011 Dad Balances Fear Versus Reality Q&A With Daddy Blogger JackB Save The Last Dance For Me- 75 Years of Marriage An Uncertain Certainty Four Generations & A Wedding The Best Thing My Father Ever Said To Me 1 Foolproof Way To Become a Better Writer The Story Of A House- The Final Days He Died A Hero Twenty-Five Links That Will Make You A Better Writer/Blogger Thanks for coming by, I hope you like it. If you want to reach me use the contact form or try talk-to-jacknow-at-gmail-dotcom You can also find more information by clicking About Me and reading my profile there. Also, I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter using the form on the top right hand side of the page.
      Joshua says:

      Thank you, it is a trip this parenting gig. Last night we ran headlong into the teen who can’t remember how to clean his room… Good times. 🙂

      Reply

  3. When did time speed up? When we were kids, it felt like time dragged?
    I’m trying to appreciate the time my kids – even when they drive me nuts. I feel like nearly everyday there is a moment to signify they have aged/changed/grew.

    Reply
    1. TheJackB – Someone complained that this page doesn’t tell you what to expect to find here in this blog so I aim to rectify this with the next line. I am a father who writes about life, parenting, business, politics and fiction. I don’t use an editorial calendar because I don’t map out what I am going to write that far in advance. The primary focus will be on things that relate to children and parenting. But the nifty thing about that is that encompasses a wide range of things. Sometimes I work with companies on their PR/Marketing efforts. If they provide products or services I will disclose it. Here is an incomplete list of companies that I am currently or have recently worked with: Nintendo, Philips Norelco, Subway, Frigidaire and Mattel. Want to know more about me, keep reading. If I wanted to provide a professional description it would looks similar to this: Jack has a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from California State University Northridge. He has been writing for print and web publications for more than twenty years, covering a wide range of topics including: business, technology, parenting, politics, education, sports and religion. That is far too serious so I prefer to use something like: The Jack B. is a writer and author of 39 unpublished books and three screenplays. A former athlete and would be superhero he still fights for truth, justice and the American Way. Though he may look like a grown man, don’t fool yourself he is still a boy at heart. When he is not engaged in Walter Mitty like fantasies he is a husband, father and friend and blogs at TheJackB. Hmm…obviously I have since moved from Random Thoughts over to this place, but that is ok. This page is a work in progress which is a good description for me. I’ll probably tweak this on a regular basis so feel free to keep checking back in because you never know what might show up. I am a prolific writer and update frequently so don’t forget to scroll down the page to see what nugget of wisdom you just might have missed. Here is a short selection of posts to get you started. A Father Describes Parenting A Father’s Burden How Sister’s Helped to Train A Father of “Daddy’s Girl” Inside the Blogger’s Studio- A Dream, Er Nightmare The GermoPhobe What I Dream About I am In Love Becoming a Dad Dad’s Most Important Job A Decade of Dad Grandpa Donuts Why Your Post Sucks and Everyone Hates Your Blog A Letter To My Children- Things That Matter A Letter To My Children-2011 Dad Balances Fear Versus Reality Q&A With Daddy Blogger JackB Save The Last Dance For Me- 75 Years of Marriage An Uncertain Certainty Four Generations & A Wedding The Best Thing My Father Ever Said To Me 1 Foolproof Way To Become a Better Writer The Story Of A House- The Final Days He Died A Hero Twenty-Five Links That Will Make You A Better Writer/Blogger Thanks for coming by, I hope you like it. If you want to reach me use the contact form or try talk-to-jacknow-at-gmail-dotcom You can also find more information by clicking About Me and reading my profile there. Also, I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter using the form on the top right hand side of the page.
      Joshua says:

      Hi Larry,

      I wonder about that often. Time moves so slowly when you are a kid and then all of a sudden as an adult it is compressed into chunks that moved way too fast.

      Reply

  4. This has been the topic most talked about lately among my peers and I too. My youngest turned 9 and I have two older kids quickly moving their way up the double digits.
    Funny how all those days, weeks, months of waking up in the middle of the night to nurse them seemed to go on forever, and there were times when they were babies when I was so overwhelmed, I wondered if and how we’d ever get through it. But we did. And now, in hindsight, it really does all seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye.
    The thing is, no matter how tall they get (my oldest at 13 can look me in the eye at 5’9″ and wears bigger shoes than I do), they will always be my babies to me. The transitions, however constant, are subtle enough through my biased mommy perspective that it’s hard to see them any other way, and I suspect that will still be true when they are 30, and so on. But as quickly as all this sneaks up on us parents, it’s a big wake-up call to snap to attention and prepare to help prepare them for that great big world out there, to have the conversations I’d imagined and practiced in my mind over and over again, and then to prepare more–to be able to let them go one day when they are ready to leave the ol’ nest. Wow. That’s a scary thought. But imminent.
    There will never be enough bubble wrap for that. But they are doing all right, in spite of me. 🙂

    Reply
    1. TheJackB – Someone complained that this page doesn’t tell you what to expect to find here in this blog so I aim to rectify this with the next line. I am a father who writes about life, parenting, business, politics and fiction. I don’t use an editorial calendar because I don’t map out what I am going to write that far in advance. The primary focus will be on things that relate to children and parenting. But the nifty thing about that is that encompasses a wide range of things. Sometimes I work with companies on their PR/Marketing efforts. If they provide products or services I will disclose it. Here is an incomplete list of companies that I am currently or have recently worked with: Nintendo, Philips Norelco, Subway, Frigidaire and Mattel. Want to know more about me, keep reading. If I wanted to provide a professional description it would looks similar to this: Jack has a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from California State University Northridge. He has been writing for print and web publications for more than twenty years, covering a wide range of topics including: business, technology, parenting, politics, education, sports and religion. That is far too serious so I prefer to use something like: The Jack B. is a writer and author of 39 unpublished books and three screenplays. A former athlete and would be superhero he still fights for truth, justice and the American Way. Though he may look like a grown man, don’t fool yourself he is still a boy at heart. When he is not engaged in Walter Mitty like fantasies he is a husband, father and friend and blogs at TheJackB. Hmm…obviously I have since moved from Random Thoughts over to this place, but that is ok. This page is a work in progress which is a good description for me. I’ll probably tweak this on a regular basis so feel free to keep checking back in because you never know what might show up. I am a prolific writer and update frequently so don’t forget to scroll down the page to see what nugget of wisdom you just might have missed. Here is a short selection of posts to get you started. A Father Describes Parenting A Father’s Burden How Sister’s Helped to Train A Father of “Daddy’s Girl” Inside the Blogger’s Studio- A Dream, Er Nightmare The GermoPhobe What I Dream About I am In Love Becoming a Dad Dad’s Most Important Job A Decade of Dad Grandpa Donuts Why Your Post Sucks and Everyone Hates Your Blog A Letter To My Children- Things That Matter A Letter To My Children-2011 Dad Balances Fear Versus Reality Q&A With Daddy Blogger JackB Save The Last Dance For Me- 75 Years of Marriage An Uncertain Certainty Four Generations & A Wedding The Best Thing My Father Ever Said To Me 1 Foolproof Way To Become a Better Writer The Story Of A House- The Final Days He Died A Hero Twenty-Five Links That Will Make You A Better Writer/Blogger Thanks for coming by, I hope you like it. If you want to reach me use the contact form or try talk-to-jacknow-at-gmail-dotcom You can also find more information by clicking About Me and reading my profile there. Also, I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter using the form on the top right hand side of the page.
      Joshua says:

      That is a great way to put it and I would say the same, “they are doing ok in spite of me.”
      Until you become a parent you don’t really recognize how many choices and decisions are made without real thought or insight and it is not because we don’t care but because life doesn’t present you with endless amounts of time to ponder and consider.

      You just take the information you have and do the best you can with it.

      Reply

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