Having kids better than being one

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
You know the old expression, "My how time flies."
Never have I thought that as much as here lately.
One year ago today, my wife, Mandi, and I got up early in the morning, made a short drive to Tuscumbia and nothing has ever been the same.
Our little boy, Ty, was born on March 26, 2007.
It's amazing how much children change your lives. I always knew that when we had kids everything would be different.
There is less time to spend on ourselves, less time to sit in the peace and quiet and less time to relax.
But I don't miss any of those things.
I have always been a bit selfish with my time because I've always wanted to squeeze in enough time for myself just to sit back and watch TV or do something on my own.
I have quickly realized, however, just how unimportant that is.
Saturday night as our family gathered for Ty's first birthday party I kept thinking about how fast my own life has gone by and how it seems just like yesterday that I was kid myself.
It made me realize that I should never take one second with him for granted.
After the party Saturday night and into Sunday morning I came down with a stomach virus that kept me in the bed until Monday night. Being as cautious as could be, I have tried staying away from Ty during that time to make sure he doesn't get sick.
Well, it's amazing how much you can miss someone who is just in the next room over. As I walked by I could see him laughing and cutting up with his mother or reaching for me only for me to have walk away. I hated that.
I have learned so much over the past year, but more than anything else I've learned, is that children are the most precious gift we have and there is never a time when we should take them for granted.
Even if it just means being in a different room.