August 14, 2025

Time Moves Faster Than We Think: Watching Our Parents Age

It hits you quietly at first. You notice your dad moving a little slower, your mom taking more breaks when walking, the way they lean on the counter for support. My dad is over 80 now, my mom is creeping closer to that age, and I am fully aware of how lucky I am to still have them here. But the truth is, no matter how much you appreciate them, time still feels like it’s slipping away faster than you can hold it.

We don’t really notice it until something makes us stop and look. Maybe it’s an old photo, maybe it’s a story they tell that reminds you of how much they’ve lived through. It’s like one day they’re strong and busy, doing everything themselves, and the next you’re watching them struggle to open a jar or needing help with their phone. It’s not just aging, it’s the reminder that life doesn’t pause for anyone.

I’ve learned that spending time with my parents, and with my husband’s mom, is more important than anything else on my to-do list. Because one day, I won’t be able to. One day, the seat at the table will be empty, the phone calls will stop, and all I’ll have left are the memories of the time we spent together.

So now, I make sure to show up. I take the extra time to visit, call, laugh, and just be present. I try to soak in their stories, even the ones I’ve heard a hundred times. I notice the way my dad still tells jokes like he did when I was a kid, and the way my mom still fusses over making sure everyone is fed.

We can’t slow their aging, but we can make sure we don’t miss the moments that matter. One day, those moments will be all we have and I want mine to be full.