Everyday when I pick the boys up from the babysitter’s house after work, we talk on the way home. It’s our time. We catch up, they tell me about their day, we laugh, make silly jokes, talk about the plan for the rest of the evening, and just enjoying reuniting after a long day apart.
Lately, the boys memory seems to be sharpening and they like to say, “Hey mom, remember when _____!??” and they fill in that blank with something we did recently. It often amazes me the things they remember, and it always makes me smile remembering with them.
The other day, in the middle of hysterics over the newest favorite phrase, “MONKEY FARTS AND CHICKEN POOP!?!?!?!? THAT’S SILLY!!!!” on repeat, Connor said, “Hey Mom! Remember when I’m gonna get big and so I can drive a car?”
I said, “What?” And he repeated, “Remember when I’m gonna get big?”
I went along with it and said, “Yeah buddy, you are going to get big!” He sat back in his seat with a satisfied look on his face and that was that. But it left me with the unavoidable realization that my boys are growing up.
“When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.” Patrick Rothfuss
This growing up phenomenon is a bitter sweet kind of thing. After all, as a parent, is it not my job to help my sons grow up? That’s really the crux of my purpose. To raise them well and help them grow up into wonderful men. But as a mommy, there’s a twinge of sadness that comes with that. It means that my ultimate goal is to raise my children to some day be grown and no longer dependent on me for anything but love. To prepare my heart to not only live and breathe outside of my body, but also to teach it to go to school, to drive, to get married, and to eventually find it’s home in someone else’s chest.
I try not to think too far into the future about such things because afterall, my boys are still only 2 1/2 and 14 months. We have some time. But they are already thinking about getting bigger.
It’s an innate sense inside of children that their goal is ultimately to grow up. They often say things like, “I can’t wait til I get bigger. “When I get bigger I’m gonna ____.” We all said it when we were kids. And our parents always said, “Just enjoy being a kid.” When we grow up, we understand why they said that. Being an adult isn’t as fun as our parents made it look back then! Now don’t get me wrong, it has its perks. But if you ask me, the main perk of being an adult is the ability to have children.
Not only do I want them to enjoy being young. I want to enjoy them being young as well. It all goes so fast. It seems like just the day before yesterday I was in the hospital preparing to give birth; and now, I look in the rear view mirror and see real boys.
Apparently this has been happening for a while without my knowledge. They’re growing up. While I’m remembering when they were little, Connor is already asking me to remember when he got big.
I’m realizing our children outgrow us much faster than we will ever outgrow them. Truth is, I will never outgrow my babies. To me, they’ll always be my babies. When I “remember when Connor is gonna get big and drive a car,” it will be my baby behind that wheel. When I send them out into the world and they first go to school without me, it will be my 8 pound cherubs walking into that big building. When he meets the love of his life and she places her hand inside his, it will be my little boy who’s tiny fingers used to be wrapped around mine.
Much before I’m ready, I will stand there next to my son who will likely stand many inches above me, I will look up into his beautiful eyes and I will say, “Son, remember when you got bigger?” I’ll send him out into the world because I will have done my job well. My hand will be replaced by another and though I will hold the memories of his past, she will hold the memories of his future. I will be there too, but in a much different role.
And that’s good. It’s the way it’s suppose to be.
But for now, I am thankful that I don’t have to release them just yet. For now, my babies are still my babies, even though they are getting bigger before my very eyes.
Right now, I’m holding onto the fact that I’m still the one in the driver’s seat. It’s still my cheeks they kiss goodnight. It’s still my hand they want to hold. It’s still my arms they run into. They’re still my little boys. I’m remembering every little detail and tucking them into my heart.
Because all too soon, I’m going to remember when they got big.
One click=One vote!
Three Boys and a Mom 
Beautifully put. It does happen fast. I have been pondering this a lot in my writing, too, with my oldest baby becoming a teen, two others gaining on him before I know it. It’s nice having one more toddler so I have one to do it all over again with.:) Of course, he will go too fast, too. Sigh. Suffice to say, keep savoring it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen to that! It’s unbelievable how fast they grow up. My youngest is now almost 15 months and is becoming more and more like his brothers and less and less like “the baby” everyday. It’s amazing and sad all at the same time!
LikeLike
Such a great post! My boys are a bit older than yours and one of the biggest reasons I started to blog was to hold myself accountable – to take more pictures and actually put on paper all the cute things they say. I honestly wish I had done it sooner – it isn’t easy to go back in time and remember… Good for you for doing it now while they are still so little, especially with all that you have on your plate!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh thank you so much! I appreciate that, and I started my blog in part for similar reasons. It is a great way to savor things and remember small details you may otherwise have forgotten! Although, it is amazing how much I forget already that I swore to myself I wouldn’t need to write down because I would just remember. It makes me want to write everything or keep a continuous video camera rolling haha
LikeLike
My oldest will be starting highschool in September, and I can still remember the day she was born, the pink outfit she was suppose to leave the hospital in…then decided to poop all over it ( I hadn’t at that time mastered diapers), LOL the time goes so fast
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw haha what a funny and sweet memory! Thank you for sharing! I know the older years will be a blast too and it all has its beauty, so I definitely want to stay in a place of savoring it all as we go, no matter how old they get!
LikeLike
Time flies by so fast. My kids are 6 and 3. I constantly find myself just staring at them as they move about, trying to suck in and store as many memories as possible for when they get big.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do the same thing! It’s funny how at night after so much energy and time has gone into getting them to sleep, I want to spend time staring at them or snuggling them because when they’re asleep, I miss them! ❤
LikeLike
Such beautiful words. They do grow up fast! I’m sure it will really hit me when they both are in school .
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree Melissa… I think that milestone will be a hard one! Cool, but hard! At least now they are still closer to babies than anything else! But no matter how old they get, they’ll always be MY babies!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is so sweet. I cannot even believe how fast time goes. Someone once told me, “The days are long, but the months fly by.” It’s SO true! Sometimes I want to slow time down, but I’m realizing that each stage brings new and fun experiences.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with you Tricia! Each stage has such cool things. I used to think I’d just be totally sad when my babies were no longer babies…and yes, it is bitter sweet, but as we go, my love grows and new things happen and they reach new milestones and it’s just all awesome! Hardest most amazing role in the entire world being a mama! 🙂
LikeLike
Ahh, yes, it really does go too fast for us Mamas! And I still tell my kids, even my 9- and 8-year-olds, “You are still and always will be my babies.” And you know, as much as they want to be bigger, they still like being Mommy’s baby,
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that Ai! The boys will still snuggle up to me and say, “Mama, I’m your baby!??” And I always tell them that they will always be my babies!! It’s so true… tip my last breath, they will be my babies! And I think there will always be an element of that that will bring them comfort!
LikeLike
Oh, I feel this. So much! I’m not sure I’m ready for all the growth–that I will have to do in learning to let my little boy go–as he gets bigger.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s very bitter sweet Keri! It’s beautiful and amazing watching them grow and become real little boys rather than babies…the new discoveries, the improved language and understanding, the feelings, the exploration…it’s so cool! But there is an element of sadness knowing they’re growing up. But, as long as we savor each thing along the way, I know we will find the joy through it all! Because really, it is all joy! Even the hard stuff. 🙂
LikeLike
aww this is so sweet! I saw a post thos other day about a women giving her daughter a ‘half-time’ message since she was turning 9.. so it ment she was alreyad halfway done raining her… it has stuck with me and gives me panic attacks! My son will be 9 in two years… I dont want to be halfway done already!!!! too fast!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my goodness it is too fast! Its unbelievable! Such a bitter sweet phenomena haha
LikeLike
I came across this post just minutes after starting a new post on my blog entitled “Growing up Overnight” which talks about how fast my own boys have grown up and the things I miss most. Your post, which as I said came along just minutes later, touched my heart. It all happens to fast, too fast.
Very well written, and beautiful photos.
http://madcraftingmama.blogspot.ca/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you melinda! I read your post too and it was equally beautiful.
LikeLike
Hi Rachael, thank you for this great post. And I must say I totally like your photos, the way you make them. Your post reminds me to enjoy every moment of life. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I’m so glad to hear that. Thank you for reading and commenting!
LikeLike
[…] boys like to be carried everywhere. Despite their growing up, they still want their mommy to hold them and comfort them and carry them places whenever possible. […]
LikeLike
[…] content enough to just be close to his mama, so I’m cool. But it is one more reminder that my baby is growing up and pretty soon, one of these nursing sessions will be my […]
LikeLike
[…] one of our children struggling throughout the day without us. We get teary eyed when our babies talk about getting bigger. When they get hurt, we are braver than we’ve ever been; but then, once we know they’re ok and […]
LikeLike
[…] one of our children struggling throughout the day without us. We get teary eyed when our babies talk about getting bigger. When they get hurt, we are braver than we’ve ever been; but then, once we know they’re ok and […]
LikeLike