There's a last time for everything. A last shoulder ride. A last call for "One more story?" A last obsession with Numberblocks before it's all gaming headsets and awkward eye contact.
The thing is—you never know it's the last time until it's already gone. And if you're anything like me, you're probably too distracted looking for the TV remote or stepping on rogue bits of hot wheels or Barbies to realise these ordinary, everyday moments are quietly slipping away.
The Bittersweet Truth About "Lasts"
One minute you're being asked to draw a unicorn fighting a dinosaur with a rainbow sword, challenging them with riddles, and the next you're getting a grunt from behind a closed bedroom door. It happens gradually, like wallpaper peeling in a rented flat. You think you've got time. You think there'll always be another round of piggyback races or tea parties with stuffed animals.
But then… they stop asking.
That's not meant to sound bleak (well, maybe just a little—sentimental dad alert), but rather a wake-up call. Not in the "spend every moment in some Pinterest-perfect parenting bubble" kind of way. I'm talking about being present. Being there for the silly, messy, frustrating, beautiful now.
Not Just Time… Presence
Look, I'm guilty of it too. I've nodded along to tales of playground politics while sneakily checking the price of petrol or getting sucked into a group chat about lawnmowers. But kids notice when we're not all there. They might not say it, but they do.
Ten minutes of genuine attention trumps an entire afternoon of distracted "togetherness." Quality always beats quantity. So when you can, get on the floor, play some games with them, wear the tiara, make the fort, and build that spaceship out of cereal boxes. Even if your knees crack louder than the cardboard.
Childhood Doesn't Wait
Your kids are changing faster than your phone's operating system. What they love today might be old news tomorrow. One of mine was completely obsessed with Numberblocks. Had a favourite one and everything (I won't say which—Numberblocks politics is a sensitive topic round here). Now? They roll their eyes if I even hum the theme tune.
Wear the silly hat for them at the park... if they're into dinosaurs, build a T-Rex out of sofa cushions. If they're into space, go full NASA with the recycling box (I poked holes in the one the fridge was delivered in and shined a torch through it... then carried the kids and took them to the moon).
These fascinations are short-lived, and your engagement with them—even for a few minutes—means everything.
How to Soak It Up (Without Losing Your Mind)
Let's be realistic. We're knackered, we've got bills, DIY projects that have been "nearly finished" since 2021, and work stress that follows us into the loo. So no, we're not suggesting you become a full-time clown/dad hybrid (unless you want to, in which case: good luck to you!).
But here's what helps:
- Say yes more often – especially when they ask you to play.
- Put the phone down – or at least pretend to (they'll still notice).
- Turn routines into rituals – bedtime, school run, Saturday pancakes. Make them yours.
- Capture the silly stuff – not just with photos, but by being in it, fully.
A Time Will Come…
There'll be a time they won't want to hold your hand. Or ask you to tuck them in. Or climb into bed with you because they heard a creak that sounded like a zombie horse. And that time might come sooner than you're ready for.
But until then—until that very last time—show up. As the dad who throws them in the air (even when your back protests), who watches the same cartoon for the fiftieth time (yay neurodiversity), who listens, laughs, and lets them be little.
Because these moments don't come back.
And neither do Numberblocks obsessions... Zero isn't her hero anymore :(
👉 "What was the last moment you didn't know was a 'last'? Let's remember them, even the painful ones."
You never know it's the last time.
Not until the bedtime stories stop… or you're no longer the one they call for in the night.
Life changed faster than I was ready for but I'm holding onto what's still mine:
Every second I get with them.#DadLife #TimeWithKids #Dadblog #OneMoreStory #Numberblocks
