It’s understandable. It’s reasonable.

You’re tired. They’re tired. It’s been a long day or a long drive. You’re ready for the school play to be finished up. You’re ready for bedtime. You’re ready for them to be out of diapers. You’re excited for them to start college.

In his incredible (and short) book Travels with Epicurus (grab a copy here), Daniel Klein tells a lovely story:

I remember one long-ago evening, on an overcrowded train to Philadelphia, hearing a young woman moan to her mother, ‘God I wish we were there already!’ Her white-haired mother replied eloquently, ‘Darling, never wish away a minute of your life.’

That’s what we—supposedly the wiser adults—are constantly doing ourselves. And worse, we are wishing away our kids’ lives. The most beautiful and cute and fleeting part, too!

Don’t wish it away, no matter how frustrating this phase or this bedtime or this age is. Before you know it, they’ll have grown. They won’t need you as much anymore. You won’t see them every day (you probably won’t even talk to them every day). And you’ll wish for it all back.

P.S. The days are long. The years are short. Every parent knows this—and every parent looks back and wishes they wrote down more.

Record just one line, one thought, or one special moment a day with our leatherbound Daily Dad Five-Year Reflection Journal. When you’ve filled it out, not only will you have an incredible record of your and your kids’ lives, but you’ll have a beautiful keepsake to pass down.

Get your Daily Dad Five-Year Reflection Journal at store.dailydad.com.