accepting that my kids are growing up

My boys are growing up. A few incidents this past week have left me feeling both proud and sad.

I picked up my six-year-old aka The Boss from soon to take him to a dentist’s appointment and brought him back just before lunch ended.

We live right across the street from his school – very convenient when I’m able to take him to school at two minutes to 9:00am.

As we were walking and crossing the street to go back to school, what do we see? Five of his female classmates were lined up behind a fence, calling him by name.

“Anthony! Anthony! You’re back!” they all cheered.

One was so surprised, she sighed: “I didn’t think you were coming back today!”

I looked over at my son, in disbelief and my eyes grew even wider as I saw him strut.

He was nodding his head like the coolest dude ever and had a strut in his walk. Like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.

Oh yeah.

As soon as he entered the school premises, the girls rushed to him. They surrounded him and gave him a big group hug.

I was speechless.

Oh. My. God.

My son is growing up.

He took it all in like the coolest cat… I was floored!

Girls are starting to like him.

Soon enough, girls will be calling the house.

In no time, he’ll be asking to go to the mall and the movies with his friends.

I wish I could bottle up their smell and keep it forever.

I wish I could close my eyes and capture them in this very moment and re-play it in real life when they are older.

When they are off having a life of their own.

My boys are growing up.

Obviously I know this but it really sunk in over the last few days.

Last night, while I was giving the boys a bath, I stopped – all thoughts and chatter in my mind – and just watched them. My mind almost saw their cute little faces morph into those of teenage boys and I couldn’t help but tear up.

Then my moment was interrupted when The Boss said:

“Mommy, when I grow up I want to marry you.”

Heart melt.

“I love you baby. But when you grow up you’re going to marry someone else.”

Pause.

“When we grow up, are you going to have other kids?”

I was floored.

“No, honey. I’ll still be with you when you grow up. You and Daniel will always be my babies.” I said.

And with that, I started to cry.

“Why are you crying mommy?” The Boss asked.

“Because you’re growing up so fast,” I replied.

I want them to be kids forever.

I want to cherish this moment forever.

I want that image of them, like this, at this age, etched forever in my brain so that I can pull from my memory whenever I want to relive these precious moments.

It left me feeling terribly sad.

“Do you want us to stay kids?”

I nodded.

“Do you miss when we were babies?”

I nodded again.

“Mommy don’t worry, I’m only 6 ½,” The Boss reassured me.

“It’s ok mommy, I won’t grow up too fast,” The Destroyer chimed in.

Heart melt.

This was just another reminder that I need to slow down and enjoy these precious moments amidst the chaos of our lives.

Because it all really does go by too fast.

My hope is that my boys will always remain close to me. And although I realize this may not be the case, I know I will try my absolute best to make sure that I am nearby.

accepting that my kids are growing up

Girls Are Starting to Like My Son… Help!

My Boys Are Growing Up