Oh How Time Changes Things

I think back to when I was a kid and couldn't understand a lot of the things my parents did or the reasons they did them. Now I catch myself doing some of the same things, saying some of the same things and acting some of the same ways! It makes much more sense now, especially since I'm doing it I see my kids looking at me like I'm crazy, sometimes even questioning me for some of the things I say or do. Sounds familiar.
So here are a few examples that I've come up with:
I never understood why I needed to tell my parents where I was. Why did it matter if I rode my bike around the block? I was outside playing, wasn't that enough information for them? As I shake my head for thinking like that then I see my kids wondering why they can't go outside without telling me. I see them with puzzled looks on their faces as I tell them to stay in the back yard which is fenced in and check in with me often. Of course, I'm usually outside with them or standing at the back door watching everything they do.
Washing hands before eating. I never understood why this mattered. I mean after all my hands were going to get dirty again soon so why wash them. One word now that I'm a mom: GERMS! I tell my kids to wash their hands the minute they walk in the door from school, from outside playing, before eating, after using the bathroom and any other time I feel their hands could be dirty.
Clean your room. WHY? As a child I never understood this. My parents considered my room a mess. I thought it was just perfect. After all, the toys I loved best were right there on the floor or bed for easier access. Why put them in the closet or toy box where it would take more time to dig out and thus resulting in losing precious play time. Now I'm constantly telling my kids to pick up their toys, make sure they don't have dirty clothes on the floor, put their shoes up, etc. etc. etc.
Responsibility. I heard that word so much growing up I thought it was a family member. "We're just trying to teach you responsibility". "Learn to be responsible for yourself and your actions". "We just teach you responsibility because we love you". Oh yes, I've heard myself saying similar things to my own kids now. Sometimes I have to shake my head and pinch myself to see if I'm dreaming or not. To this point, it's all been real, no dream.

I could go on and on with things that my parents or grandparents did or said and as a kid I thought it was silly or crazy or just plain annoying. Now as an adult, it all makes sense. (well, most of it makes sense)

To my own girls, let me just say that your grandparents were right. So when you get tired of hearing me tell you to clean your room, learn to be responsible or always let me know where you're at, it's just because I love you.
Yes, time changes things, doesn't it?