I have always known my children weren't going to stay little forever. I knew the day would come when they would grow up and wouldn't need me, and maybe wouldn't *sniff* even *sniff* want me. *sniff, sniff* But I thought they would at least be teenagers when that happened.
Elizabeth has been doing a wonderful job this week of getting up on her own (though she did forget to set her alarm last night and I had to wake her this morning). She gets herself ready, gets her breakfast, and leaves for the bus without any prompting from me. This behavior is such a change from last year, and I have admired how much she's grown up just over the summer. It did scare me a bit last night when we went to the shoe store though. The clerk measured Elizabeth's foot and, are you ready for this? (I wasn't!) My little girl's foot is a half size larger than mine!
OK, so she's really growing. But she's only eleven. What happened to waiting for her teen years before she started growing up???
Well, at least I still have my little boys, I thought. Then came this morning. Joshua asked, "Mom, do you have to walk us to the bus stop today?" (Background: Tuesday I went with them just so they could find it, but we had to turn several corners along the way and it seemed a bit confusing. So yesterday we went to a different one - maybe a slightly longer walk but waaaaay easier to navigate. I suggested this second bus stop specifically so they would be able to manage going by themselves, but I didn't expect Joshua to ask me to not go with them!) I asked him why he didn't want me to walk with them and he said, "I want to grow up a little." Oh!!! Matthew does want me to walk with them (he even holds my hand!) so I asked Joshua if it would be OK with him if I walked them to the bus today, but didn't tomorrow. He agreed.
So we're walking along this morning and I'm looking at Joshua - he's only 9! - and realizing he is growing up right before my eyes, too. We talked about school and bugs and the neighbor's cat, and I tried to cherish the moment. Then the bus came and even though he's growing up, even though his new friends were standing around, Joshua hugged me and gave me a kiss and told me he loves me. As he boarded the bus we even did our "You Rock!" routine. And as the bus drove away I saw both of my little boys sitting in the back of the bus, waving good-bye to me out the back window. Precious, I'm telling you. Absolutely precious!
I still don't know what to do about this "growing up" thing happening so far ahead of schedule, though!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Oh, No! It's Starting!
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10 comments:
Oh my goodness...they do grow up fast! I am scared to death of the phase where they don't want hugs and kisses or to acknowledge mom's existence! I am hoping that doesn't happen to all kids...wishful thinking, huh?
I was a fan of the growing up thing when they were babies, but once they hit 3, I just want it all to slow down so I can savor every moment. Unfortunately, it just seems to go faster!
I don't know if I am looking forward to that time, it's making me value every minute right now, but at the same point you know it's good because they are growing and finding their way, but oohhh...I could feel this one.
I'm an only child and I so remember my Mum holding my hand to cross the road, I remember being 8 or 9 and suddenly it was not cool, I would run ahead and feel embarrassed. When I visited home in 2004 she automatically reached out to for me when I went to cross the road and I felt vexed at being 'mothered', yet 3 years on...now I understand.
Scamp is still so small, and I'm already missing her!! She likes to be Miss Indepedent!
I have no idea if i'm doing this right. i am a mom of 4,,,15,12,10,and 2 i work part time husband works fulltime. I want to run away from my children. everyday is a new problem. a new crisis to solve and most of the time i have to do it by myself. my house is always a mess. i feel anxious quite a bit and stay up way to late to get some quiet time. i absolutely look forward to naptime with my 2 year old but feel guilty because of all the things i think i should be doing. everyone tells me that i'm so organized but i don't feel that way. My 2 yr old says she hates her older brother,he's 12 and my only boy. he feels slated by her not to mention he has plenty of problems himself that i nor his dad can seem to help him overcome. i don't know where to go with all of this. my best friend died 3 years ago and i have not had a close one since then and most of the time i feel like i'm complaining anyway. i have so much to be thankful for, but when i start looking at the details i get so overwhelmed that i feel as if i'm drowning. a i the only one with this backward thinking? help
praying that God will give you wisdom as you get to talk with Amanda, mother of 4
yeah, my kids are 13 and 10, and they seem to be all grown. Until they want clean clothes, and have no idea why they don't have any because they just picked them ALL up last night after I went to bed, and why didn't I wash some? Sigh. I'm glad that growing comes in phases because we still have those areas where they aren't responsible to "cherish" :) and realize how little they still are!
I feel the same way! My 12 yr. old boy has feet 2 sizes bigger than mine. My 10 yr. old girl is just as hormnal as I am. And my 5 yr. old, he melts my heart. I love that he still holds my hand and gives me kisses in public. They do grow up fast!
Watching them grow up is never easy. I miss my little boy and girl terribly but I love the teens that I have now. They don't need me as much but their love for me is still there. My youngest is growing up too fast as well. She still has a few years before she's a teen but I know how quickly those years fly.
Amanda turned 17 this Summer. It's a whole new world... It's hard to be mom and friend. It's hard to discipline a person who is almost an adult but such a child at other times. I think the key is just appreciating every stage in their precious lives. They are a gift and even the tough times are wonderful memories.
I'm not minimizing the difficulties of life. The days when they fuss, the days when they don't do what you want them to... the days you want to run away. We all have those days I think. Isabelle's accident has changed my thoughts on motherhood greatly, knowing how fragile normality is... makes me bask in it... good and bad.
You rock!
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