There are a lot of changes taking place in my world these days. Lately I’ve been pondering the differences in life now, and life as I used to know it. And I’ve been really happy with my findings. Many things have changed about my boys, and about our lifestyle because these pesky kids are growing up.
Back in the Day -- when we needed a babysitter to leave the house.
I remember when silence in my house meant disaster was brewing. I rarely had to look far for the source of the silence, for there was usually a trail. Freshly cut hair, water dripping through the downstairs ceiling from an overflowing sink, or the gentle scratching of a kid drawing on the walls. Silence will freak out a Little Kid Mom. Now, silence means harmony. It means Slick is playing X-Box with his noise-cancelling headphones on and The Caboose is listening to his iPod. Or it means they’re not home, which happens more and more often as they get older. (There’s always something better going on somewhere else. Always.) Which leaves ME with silence. I don’t feel the need to put the TV on for background noise or listen to music. I’ve been waiting a long time for this silence. I’m embracing it.
And hygiene has changed. My kids think they invented the old run-the-water-and-put-on-Axe-Body-Spray trick. (They’re so clever.) Ha! I was doing that back in the 1960s. I recognized it as a sign of maturity when my kids realized showering was actually a good thing. Back then, I couldn’t get them in. Now I can’t get them out.
There was a time when sending my kids to their rooms to lie down was used as a threat. It was actually one of my better negotiating tools. “If you’re going to be cheeky, then it’s nap time.” Much like showering, I realized my kids had come around to the next phase of life when they no longer saw sleep as punishment. I grin when The Trailblazer says he’s going to take a nap in the afternoon. He’s officially a grown-up.
The simple pleasures of being a Big Kid Mom are definitely suiting me. I smile at the Little Kid Moms in the grocery store juggling toddlers and balancing a baby in a sling and pushing a cart. I offer to reach things for them and smile at the “cute” things their kids blurt out. I’m glad I’m no longer one of them. I like being a Big Kid Mom.
I love eating in restaurants and not fearing the disapproval of my waiter when we get up to leave, and the table looks like a F2 tornado has ripped across it. We no longer need to haul crayons and books, sneak in chicken nuggets in my purse, or ask for special concoctions from the kitchen for my picky eaters.
I’m happy that there are no longer designated “play areas” downstairs. Just a couple of dumbbells (the weight-lifting kind, not the kids) sitting next to the TV.
I cherish days that are free from meltdowns over trivial things and drama, drama, drama. (Well, those aren’t completely gone, but they’re less frequent.)
I have a few friends who are struggling with having Big Kids, starting to fear the days when our nests will be less crowded, and we’ll start re-feathering them with sewing rooms and home offices. Not me. I’m picking out the drapes for my woman cave. The one that will have no sports memorabilia or wipe-clean leather furniture. Just a pretty table for my laptop, shelves for pictures of my kids, a comfy chair with floral upholstery and a wine fridge.
So to all you Little Kid Moms, take heed and take heart. It goes by fast. You need to enjoy every moment of diapers, sticky hands, Nick Jr., and kids’ menus. For being a Little Kid Mom is short-lived. Thank God.
Lisha Writes 
There’s hope! Half of me wants to freeze my daughter at 2. She’s so freaking cute I can hardly bear it. She adores me. She loves to cuddle and giggle with me. When she’s bigger she’ll hate me, be embarrassed by me, know so much more than me. Then again, she’ll be able to reach the sink, wipe her own butt, and get her own food.
Oh, yeah. There’s hope. =D I’ve never really been sad about the passing of one phase of my kids’ lives. I’ve always embraced the present with joy. I have the memories and experience of them being little, and the freedom of them being independent. (Best of both worlds!)
Pingback: Good Night, Sleep Tight . . . | The Lucky Mom
lol. You have a great outlook about this. I’m struggling to let mine go, but I do realize that there are perks to them being older. Like no more diapers or sippies or tantrums. I’m trying to embrace this new phase. That family pic on the beach is priceless. Thanks so much for linking up to our Crazy Days of Summer!
Well, when I realized that they were going to grow up whether I embraced it or not, I realized the only sane thing to do was embrace it! Find the good!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Ha! Yo Gabba Gabba, is a rather bizarre show on Nick Jr. Lisha, you must check it out sometime! It is so strange, but kids are capitvated by it! Love the blog by the way!
We had Barney and Teletubbies. I guess every generation has its own brand of bizarre!! Thanks for reading. Don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any new posts!
I must admit that I prefer bigger to littler kids, too. My husband and I love this late-elementary stage (so younger than what you are in, but finally beyond needing the chicken nuggets, though the crayons are still helpful). They are young enough to think we are still a little cool (though that is fading quickly), but old enough to enjoy things that we find interesting, too.
Take a few notes on how they still think you’re cool, to refer back to later! Interestingly, my 19-yr old has come back full circle, and enjoys our company again! That was sooner than I expected.
Kenny Jr.(aka Woogie) is moving out into his own house at the end of the month. I will miss him but already have the Ikea stuff picked out for my new office/yoga studio. He will alway have a key to the house but the time has come for him to move on. I love being a Mom but I am so looking forward to another closet for me!
I’m so glad to hear this! We’ll do yoga at your house and drink wine at mine!
I am in tune with you planning the non sport decor of a guest room.
Monica
Guest room, wine-sipping room… it can have many purposes, as long as they all suit me!
Lisha- I couldn’t have said it better myself. Many days I think back on the little kid days and how I enjoyed them at the moment but how I would not want to go back. If you would have told me I would feel this way 10 years ago, I would have never believed you. This new phase of life is terrific.
I’m glad it’s not just me! This means we can get together and drink wine and talk about our big kids!!
I have the wipe down furniture and the nuggets in my diaper bag, since I haven’t even yet made the transition back to a purse, but on the cusp of my boy becoming a big brother I am taking comfort in the drama being (seemingly) within my control . I worry now about problems getting bigger and not easily solved with a kiss…Competition, Jealousy, Heartbreak, Disappointment. But I do take comfort in knowing I can ponder solving such problems without stepping on legos and humming Yo Gabba Gabba.
You’re well-equipped. But what the heck is Yo Gabba Gabba??