I used to rush through bedtime with my kids. Then I realized every routine has a last time.

The author, a mother of two young children, describes how the mundane aspects of parenting can sometimes feel like they are being rushed through without much thought. She reflects on the excitement she had imagined for certain milestones of motherhood, such as her children walking through parking lots or smiling while being pushed in a swing.

However, what she hadn't anticipated were the daily tasks like bedtime routines, which often involve multiple requests for additional stories or the need to wait patiently at the library. The author shares that these everyday moments, though not necessarily hard, can start to become burdensome over time. She shares a realization she had after reading about how each ordinary moment has a last time, emphasizing that there will always come a point when these activities will stop happening.

The author mentions that she is not always mindful of this fact, but it helps her appreciate and slow down during the repetitive parts of parenting. She notes that some days she just gets through it, and that's okay, but she tries to be present and linger a little longer during those fleeting moments before they are gone forever.