My youngest.
She’s been holding onto her childhood for quite awhile. She’s never been
like her big sister who wanted to be an adult at the age of 11. Nope. She loved being a child. Her imaginative
play has always astounded my husband and I.
My youngest is one of those children who can’t just play
with her Barbies or PetShop toys alone. No, she’d have to get books out to
spread all out as bridges or driveways, blocks to build garages, and paper to
make trash for them. Her play would usually end up incorporating her whole room
and then when it was time to clean up, I’d get a woeful, “But mom! I just got
it all set up!” And since it was usually so dang adorable and creative, I’d let
her keep it up – resulting in a mass mess for weeks on end.
Thinking about it now just makes me smile. It’s so endearing.
My youngest is the kind who has a name for every stuffed
animal (buddy) she owns. She sees one on vacation in a shop, and literally has
come to tears at the thought of leaving it and not bringing it home with her.
Endearing.
Near the end of her 6th grade year – she suddenly
(and I mean ‘suddenly’) almost overnight – had an explosion of maturity take
over her. She started taking showers. On her own. Without me telling her
to. She started wearing lip gloss
and bigger earrings. She started wearing trendier clothes and actually wanted
to start straightening her hair. This is a girl who would hardly let me brush her
hair! I was impressed. Excited.
Then the clincher
happened. When all of the above took place, I was on board. It was time. She was starting to pay
attention to her looks, and I loved it. But then, she looked at me and said,
“I’m thinking of putting my Pet shop and Barbie stuff in the playroom.” Gasp!
What? Your beloved girl toys? Yep. She was ready to remove them from her room.
I was shocked.
I was impressed.
Then when the very next day she removed them out into the
hall and I came up the stairs to see them all awaiting my attention – I felt
like crying. Again, as I
strategically found homes for them (for even though they are out of her room,
she was not quite ready to remove them from our home altogether!) I found
myself growing more and more emotional.
My baby. My baby was growing up.
Oh how we long for
things. We complain about all the toys that scatter about or nearly
break our feet as we tread over them. We long for cleaner rooms. At times, we
even wish our children could do certain things for themselves. Then when they
do, our heart yearns and pines for those childhood years that are gone…..forever.
I did everything I
knew how to do to relish, soak in, and enjoy every minute of my kids’ childhood
years. And somehow, they still blew
by me like a freight train.
I love the ages they are at. I love to shop with them, and
start to share jewelry and clothing. I love that they can actually give ME
advice on what I’m wearing! But oh – how I miss the times when I could sit and
brush or braid their hair, read them a book at bedtime, or have them run to me
so excited to see me with their arms stretched open!
Growing up. It has
to happen just like everything else in life. And I will be thankful for the
years I’ve been given. Every second.
5 comments:
Your family is beautiful. It is evident that you are doing a great job raising your children. Keep up the great writing!
My sister and I were the same way with our Barbies! I know how you feel about them growing up. My dd is almost 22 and in her last year at college 1800 miles away. She's been our world travelor going to Israel and Russia as well as many missions trips inside the U.S. I remember when she was playing with Barbies. They are all still in the garage.
You bring a tear to my eyes. I remember the pains of this mommy as my children grew up. My baby just graduated HS and I'm still adjusting to that big move. What a beautiful post. Thank you.
Awww, Alene! I hope that you can find fresh air and exciting new roads open for you at this stage of your parenting. And if you still shed a few tears at this phase, relish those too. :)
Samantha - Thank you for your comment. I think my family is beautiful too - I am so blessed. :)
JoJo - It truly happens in a blink.
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