If I Could Turn Back Time, A Mother's Wish!

During my morning stroll, I couldn’t help but think of Cher’s song “If I Could Turn Back Time.” This reflection came to me as I watched young children being dropped off at an elementary school. Young parents hurriedly dropped their kids off, racing against the clock to get to their jobs. The children trudged toward the entrance, burdened by heavy backpacks.

I wish I could tell these parents that the hectic years of school drop-offs will pass in the blink of an eye. Instead of rushing, they should take a moment to truly connect with their children. The work awaiting them will still be there; a minute to smile and give a hug before sending their little ones off can mean so much.

Seeing those heavy backpacks on such small shoulders brought tears to my eyes, making me ponder why these young kids have to shoulder such burdens so early.

Reflecting on “If I Could Turn Back Time,” I realize I would choose moments with my children over career advancements. I wouldn’t worry so much about filling their free time with activities; instead, I would celebrate simply letting them be. I would fret less about their futures, trusting that the same force that brought them into this world would protect them.

While we can’t literally turn back time, we can embrace the wisdom that comes with age. For me, that means fully appreciating and loving my children unconditionally, regularly expressing how proud I am of them and how much they mean to me. I also want to be gentle with myself, recognizing that I did what had to be done as a young mother.