Something disturbing has been happening in my home lately. I am powerless to stop it. My children are getting older. I know you’re going to tell me that it’s inevitable. But why? I’m not getting any older, why do they have to? I know, I know, denial isn’t a river in Egypt.
My older son has a cell phone. He wants to walk home from the bus stop by himself. He watches “ICarly” because he has a crush on the blond girl. He calls me Mom and not Mommy. He doesn’t believe in Santa Claus, but works very hard to keep that from his little brother. When I want to kiss him on the top of his head, I have to stand on my toes. How did this happen? It was only ten minutes ago that I snapped this picture to use as a Christmas card:
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| 2005. Really? It seems like ten minutes ago. |
A few weeks back, Owen and I were talking after school. He was throwing his jacket and backpack on the floor neatly hanging up his jacket and backpack and he said to me, “You know what’s a funny word Mom? Puberty.”
“Did you talk about puberty in health class,” I asked him as I resisted the urge to put my hands over my ears and yell, “La la la I can’t hear you!”
“No. I just think it’s fun to say… puberty, puberty, puberty, puberty,” he sang to a catchy little tune.
“Do you know what that word means?” I asked.
“No.”
“It’s when your body starts to change from being a kid into an adult.”
“Oh,” he said, clearly understanding the gravity of such a transition. “I guess I shouldn’t sing that song in school any more.”
I remember having a conversation with my mother when I was a little girl. I told her that I liked kittens, but I didn’t like full grown cats. She said something along the lines of, “You wouldn’t want to stay a baby forever, would you?” She was right of course. And of course I don’t want my kids to stay kids forever. I want them to have jobs they love and go to work on time. I want them to vote and do the right thing when nobody is looking. I want them to grow up and have families of their own.
But not yet.
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| My "babies" 2011 |
I know, you. Oh my do I *ever* know.
ReplyDelete{If you figure out how to stop it, you let me know, mmkay?}
Beautifully told love!
Oh, they really are getting so big!
ReplyDeleteWe just had a conversation about doing the right thing when no one is looking ...
ReplyDeleteLook at them, still hugging after all these years ... and no, you have not aged at all!
Totally snorted over the "probably shouldn't be singing that in school then" comment.
ReplyDeletePerfect metaphor for the man/child all four of our boys are becoming.
Damn it.
I'd have to agree, puberty is definitely a funny word...until you know the meaning!
ReplyDeleteThey'll always be your babies :)
oh wow, they sure are getting big and so handsome. Even at "Almost 4" I see mine using longer sentences, understanding more things, not using baby talk at all..and I miss it. I do.
ReplyDeleteAs another mom of "boys" I so get this glimpse into my own future..thanks for sharing it. xo
It is incredible how quick time goes. I think I blinked and a couple years passed :(
ReplyDeleteOh God, I'm all chocked up here. They really does growing up way so fast, aren't they? Your boys are handsome and thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteLove this little snippet you shared - they do grow so fast, don't they? Sigh.
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking up with us!
This made me cry... I don't really love the whole growing up thing at all. Not even a little. : )
ReplyDeleteOh dear! this left me tear eyed. Don't you just wish we could hit "pause" even for just a while?
ReplyDeleteOh goodness, I know how you feel! My oldest is all into talking about the changes her body is starting to go through, and I'M NOT READY!
ReplyDeleteAhh, I get it, and my baby's only 22 months! So old, so quick!
ReplyDeleteI think of what they will be like when mine are grown too but yeah, SO not ready yet! Love your sweet photos! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd before you know it....
ReplyDeleteI can't even think about this yet! And thanks for commenting on my guest post at Scary Mommy!
ReplyDeleteWhy did I forget to comment this?
ReplyDeleteOur youngest still acts like our baby. But the 8 yr old wants to be like the 15 yr old, and the 15 yr old is making me insane with wanting to be an adult.
It's easier for mom's to hold on to their boys, I think. I still liked my mom at that age.
Trust me, he'll keep pulling away. You hold on tight.
Why do they have to grow up so fast? My baby is 2 and I swear she was born a month ago. You have very handsome young men and I love the hug. My boys prefer to punch each other.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes. I miss my who my kids were at many stages in their lives - the teenage years? Not so much! Nice post.
ReplyDeleteI know JUST how you feel. My boys are only 4 and 2 but they are growing up way too fast. Great post!
ReplyDeleteIt goes so very fast.
ReplyDeleteI fully anticipate the time when I'll be on tippy toes to kiss the tops of my kids heads - and then, I guess I'll need a chair to stand on.
Your boys are handsome little loves.