Tag Archives: growing

It Begins Gradually

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No more kisses goodbye in the car.

No more tucking them into bed each night.

These are the little changes that occur while your child is growing up before your eyes.  If you are like me and seem to be going in many different directions, these are the things you may not notice until one day you look up and they are grown. Mom use to tell me she always placed my brothers hand in her hand to compare the size, until one day she looked down to notice my brother’s hand was bigger.  She looked down one day to man hands.  Now it is my brother’s hands that consume my Mom’s hands.

Today I noticed.

I noticed this week when he jumped out of the car each morning to go to school it is now “bye Mom.”  Before, he leaned over and gave me a kiss each day.

I noticed he is big enough to put himself to bed.  I use to always go tuck him in and say prayers, but lately he kisses me good night, tells me he loves me, and the next thing I know he is in bed with the lights out.

I dream about the kind of men my boys will one day become.  I dream and pray for their future wives.  Watching them grow up and mature is exciting.

But today as he jumped out of the car I saw my little boy leap into becoming a teenager.

Do Not Grow To Fast

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He slumps into the car as I pick him up from school. I could tell he was not happy one bit. Middle brother was in the back talking up a storm so I could not interrupt and ask what was wrong. I hear chatter in the back on how “we” have an assignment of finding the best insulator for ice. Notice how all assignments are “we”, instead of “I”. (this picture is how I think of him) Anyways, we arrive home. And I get a chance to ask other brother what was wrong. He said shyly, “there is a girl in my class I like and she has another boyfriend.” My hand grip the steering wheel as my voice ever so sweetly says, “Oh do you know this boy, is he in your class?” “I don’t know his name, but I know who he is,” my son said. I gave him a big hug and told him I loved him, but also reminded him he is too young to have a girlfriend. For right now in your life, Mommy is your only gal. He smiled and gave me a big hug.

Now some of you might be thinking I am talking about my oldest (who is about to turn 13), which I could handle a little better. But NO I am talking about my 8 year old. My baby, my “he will never grow up” son, my “he will never leave his mother and will live near by me always son”.

Please plug your ears as I S. C. R. E. A. M !!!! (Sorry, I feel a little bit better) Ok I am having a hard enough time knowing my baby days are over. I know my 13 year old will seriously begin to really like girls, girls will be calling, and he will send me to the store to buy tons of deodorant. And I will be running back ground checks. But some how while I was not looking, it seemed to skip oldest son and went straight to my youngest. This just breaks my heart on so many levels. My youngest has always since day one wanted to be “the big boy”. He wanted to be like his big brothers, compete like his big brothers, etc.. And as far as sports go, he is my most competitive. He. Does. Not. Like. To. Lose.

But during his whole life I have tried to keep him my little boy. Does anyone else have this with their youngest? How come I am suddenly having this fear, the youngest will move out the day after high school graduation. I have this vision of me with my suitcase, yelling “wait you can’t move you are not old enough, I will come with you”. Ok I am kidding; I do look forward to more time with manly man.

But I want to keep my sons just the age they are right now. I am not dealing with teenage issues yet, they can feed themselves, they can go to the bathroom themselves. Yep, right now for each of them is the perfect age (12, 11, & 8). I think maybe I should declare no more birthday’s in this household. Do you think that would go over with the boys? Nah…me neither.


originally published Jan 10, 2007

Weaning Parents

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I remember his first day of Kindergarten like it was yesterday. He had the sweetest lady for his first teacher and she was a Christian (in a public school). He had a brand new back-pack that was almost as big as he was, if there was any sort of weight inside the bag I am sure it would have toppled him over. He had his new lunch bag that I lovingly packed with his favorite foods. I put a note in his bag that said, “I love you.” Of course I made symbols for the words, because he was in Kindergarten and not reading yet. There were tears flowing (by me) and Dad telling me to let go. He was such a big boy. My premature 3lb baby (who was my miracle from God) was entering school.





Now on Monday he heads off to high school. Yes it seemed to happen just that quick.

There are no lunch bags to pack, because that is just not cool.

He will have a back pack, but only a small Nike one he traded one of his friends for. In it will be directions on finding his classes, and the all important “what time is lunch.”

I have been informed, “Mom I plan to walk to school the first day.” I agree with him because we only live around the corner. By the time I load us in the car and wait in traffic, he would already be at school in his first class. So there is no dropping him off, waving and yelling I love you’s. Of course he would not claim to know me if I did such a thing.

“Honey I will walk with you on your first day.” I said.

“Mom all my friends will be walking with me,” said in an unbelieving teenage voice.

“Are you sure you will know where to go?”

“Yes Mom, I know where to go and I know how to get back home,” he replied.

“Ok, if you are sure. You can call me if you need me.”

Just ignore any news reports you may read coming Monday of a strange woman hiding behind trees watching teenagers walk to school. I am sure she won’t be alone, as high school mothers learn to let go just a little bit more.