One of the things I have a hard time with is that things that happened "just the other day" for me, were in fact, a lifetime ago for my kids. Nowhere is this more apparent than with my kids' friends.
"Hey, there's your friend Sally." I say while shopping with my daughter at the grocery store.
"Who?" She'll ask not really interested.
"Over there....you went to her birthday party in kindergarten....remember?"
"Oh...she looks kind of familiar, I guess."
So I've spent eight years thinking my daughter and Sally are best friends, and they really don't know each other at all. That afternoon at the birthday party is a vivid memory for me, but not even a vague recollection for her.
My son plays trombone in the 7th grade band. There is one other boy trombone player in 7th grade. That boy came to our house at least twice back when they were both in 1st grade. And now, my son does not even know his name. After their last concert, I quizzed him on it...and he failed.
I'm not sure if this makes me feel old, overly sentimental, or just confused. How do I know what they will remember and what gets lost with the passing years? And at what age do the years start passing at the same rate for kids and parents?
