Happy Day to you, awesome Moxie-Dude readers!
Once upon a long time ago I was a mom to toddlers.
And then I blinked.
Today, those same toddlers are young adults and lovely teenagers. (And by “lovely”, I really mean hormonal.)
Confession #1:
There was a time when I thought I would never catch up on anything: bills, laundry, SLEEP.
No sooner was the kitchen clean, it was time to start over with another meal. I even fantasized (once or twice) about what it would be like to have my own place. You know. A haven where the floors would always be clean. The laundry hamper (singular because I’d only need one) would always be empty. And I would always know where everything was because anything that got placed . . . on the kitchen table . . . on a shelf . . . would remain there until I picked it up again.
I even fantasized about escaping the incessant questions and having some “alone-time” in the bathroom.
Yup. I thought about all those things.
Confession #2:
Now that my kids are grown and busy with lives of their own on most days, there’s a lot that I miss . . .
1. I miss snuggle time – when the kids and I would watch TV or read together under a blanket on the couch.
2. I miss my son’s child voice and the way he used to say that one day he’d marry me.
3. I miss taking my kids out for Halloween. (And then sneaking through their candy after they went to bed.)
4. I miss sitting on the edge of the bath and watching them make unicorn horns out of their hair with the soapsuds.
5. I miss tucking them in at night.
6. I miss our Friday night ritual: a picnic on the living room floor with milk in our wine glasses as we watched a movie.
7. I miss how I used to have to look down when I reminded my kids to brush their teeth (for the 11th time). Now that my teens are taller than I am, looking up and saying, “did you brush your teeth?” just doesn’t feel the same.
8. I miss all the questions. Especially now that THEY KNOW EVERTYTHING. (I blame puberty.)
What are you already starting to miss as your kids get older?
Well my kids are not getting older at 5, 3, and 3 but I do miss some things. I miss that uneasy baby waddle when your kids first learn to walk and kids who eat anything since they haven’t figured out to be picky eaters yet. I already know from the age my daughter is now, that I’ll miss her crazy way of dressing one day. Her socks never match and she picks out some crazy outfits and I love it! One day soon, she’ll conform and I’ll miss it.
lol – Yes, I miss those things too. And regarding your daughter, my second oldest (now 23) used to have a way of making anything she wore look stylish and I thought she would outgrow it but as it turns out, it’s just who she is. That said, I suspect that your daughter is the same. Some people just have a knack for style. And when I say “some people”, I do not mean me. I don’t know where my daughter got it from 🙂
I think I am very lucky… Now that 3 of my girls are grown women, I’m now able to do some of the things we used to do when they were very young…. If for a few years I couldn’t hold their hands in the shopping center or hang out with them when their friends where around or sharing my wisdom with them… now I can do all those things again with them like I said with the 3 oldest one only… my baby (16 going on 17) is still in “the zone”.
One thing I do miss… I long long long time ago my kids would asked me every night to sing for them when they were going in to bed. They never had enough – One more mommy please ! Well at the teenager time not only they stop asking, they actually told me not to sing when friends were around… ya I really like to sing in my car and I have to say that if my enthusiasm win big time, the pitch is not the best…
lol – I’ve heard you sing, Marlene. And yes. You’re right. They do come back eventually, but it’s never the same 🙂
So much truth to this post – I remember dreaming of this day when my boys were little and tonight I saw a friend’s facebook picture of bath time for her little 1 year old – sort of missed it!!!
I didn’t realize it back then – but time flies sooooo fast. And then we can’t get it back.
You know what? I bet if you asked them, your kids miss some of that stuff, too! Maybe it’s not too late! 😛
Yeah, they miss it. We reminisce a lot. But the days of them being small is gone. That’s just life 🙂
I really enjoyed reading this, mostly because I’m a mom to littles. I have a 5 month old and a 4 year old and I also feel like I’d love a little “mom pad” of my own where nothing is sticky and there are no rogue legos to step on. Taking care of babies is exhausting, but there’s something so sweet and innocent about having babies around. I’m sure I’ll miss it too. Except the no sleep part because that’s for the birds.
Stopping by from SITS
Ahhh yes, I remember those days . . . when everything you touch is sticky lol. And yup. I even miss THAT!
Yes…all those things. And while they happen, it seems like it will last a lifetime, when in fact it is over in no time at all..
It’s over in a blink 🙂
I miss the way mine used to pronounce caterpillar (as in The Very Hungry). I will never get to hear him say dat-er-pid-er in that little baby voice. 🙁 I should have recorded it, darn it.
Awww cute! That reminds me of so many . . . “puter” (computer) . . . “what’s for unch” (lunch) . . . “wellow” (yellow) . . . “me wuv mamma” . . . *sigh*
This sounds familiar. I have two teens and a tween and I miss mostly the same things. But there are great things about them growing up too…I think its hardest to watch time marching by. It seems like yesterday they were babies. I wish time would slow down!
Yes, you’re right. Each stage has its benefits – and surprises. Remembering them as babies, knowing that you can’t get that back, is nostalgic thought. Don’t you think?
Hmmm.
I like the unicorn hair, we called it mohawks, but same thing. I still have the snuggle time. I think I will miss the robot dancing, and the younger one telling me I am beautiful. It is sort of the opposite of the “face only a mother could love.” I already miss not being able to touch them in public, except when they are hurt or exhausted, and that typically involves snot. I will miss the soft skin on the back of their necks and being able to carress it. I will miss them giving me tickly scratches. Hey, thanks for this exercise. I will miss more than I thought!
I think that by noticing – or appreciating – it helps us to hold on to the little things for a little bit longer 🙂