My life as a mom is always changing, moment by moment, day by day. My boys continue to grow and become more independent. Some days they take little steps away from me, just practicing their wings. And other days, it seems like they are on the verge of jumping out of the nest altogether. While I appreciate the increasing freedom their maturity gives me, it makes me sad as well.
Long gone are the mornings spent watching the news with my oldest on my lap. Sippy cup full of milk and sleepies in his eyes, we’d snuggle the morning away.
Long gone are the spontaneous hugs, tears when I leave, and “mommy, will you please play with me?”
Now our mornings start off with him getting himself dressed, playing a computer game, and then wandering off to build with his legos. This morning was no different, except for an argument thrown into the mix. He didn’t like a decision I had made and argued with me about it. I talked with him about his tendency to debate and question my reason. A purely logical thinker, I often wonder if he will study law. I look at him some days and catch a glimpse of what he’ll look like as a teen. I can only imagine how advanced his debating skills will be by then. When he continued questioning my logic, I took away a privilege for the day.
From then on, he was noticeably irritated with me.
We then headed for my haircut appointment. I realized just this week that he is now old enough to sit still and read while I get a cut, so I took him along with me. Long gone are the days where I would never have even considered bringing him along. At seven and a half, he no longer runs around touching everything in sight. He can sit for long periods of time, quietly reading or playing a game. It suddenly hit me that we’ve now crossed into another stage of maturity, another step of independence away from me.
My stylist points to the chair next to the one I’ll be sitting in and tells him to sit there. He plops down with my phone in his hand, poised to play a game. She then leads me to the back of the salon to wash my hair before cutting it. I notice that he had followed us. “Ethan, you can sit in the chair up there and wait. We’ll be right back,” I informed him.
He looks me in the eyes and says quietly, “It’s too far.”
I lie my head back against the sink, eyes burning with unshed tears. While my all too independent seven and a half-year old will continue to take steps of independence as he grows and matures–
he’ll always be my little boy.
Counting the joy in the midst of life’s changes (#1662-1683)
that God would entrust me with these eternal souls to love, teach, and care for
that boys always love their momma
getting a hair cut while my son quietly sat nearby
playing new games with the boys
spending a day in pj’s (well most of it:)
4th of July traditions with friends
no little hands getting burnt by sparklers
starting the process of ordering homeschool supplies for this next year
dark chocolate covered almonds
a surprise gift from a friend–from Anthropologie:)
A friend giving away shoes because she is moving overseas–yay for new-to-me shoes!
a week of frustration with the kids turned into a week of teaching moments
the boys digging out the train tracks they never play with and setting them up under the dining table
a pedicure!
time alone to write and think
a coffee date with a friend
less than two weeks until SheSpeaks!
this quote, from my pastor: “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called”
an amazing sermon on God’s amazing grace from 1 Timothy 1
stain remover
skyping with my husband while he is at work
Linking up with:
Great list and beautiful words. Now I just want to go cuddle with my boys
Yes, do! Imprint it upon your memory and love every second of it:)
also grateful for no burnt hands
– so sweet bout big boy still needing you…
great post as always!
I hope he’ll still need me for a while:)
Gave me a lump in the throat….
Me too:)
Oh, if only we could freeze time….to when they need us the most, to when we feel most needed. I can relate, friend! Blessings!
Yes, that would be wonderful:) Thanks for stopping by!
Sometimes you wish they could stay little forever, but that’s not what they are on earth to do.
So true! I have to remind myself that God has entrusted them to me for this short time to prepare them for what He has planned for them. Thanks for visiting!
It is hard, this letting go. A wise older friend helped me understand that the closer the relationship, the harder it is to wrestle toward freedom. As my kids grew older and away (which is what God designed for them to do!) I kept thinking about strips of Velcro being ripped apart.
But then, Velcro can always pressed close together again.
Love the image of Velcro! I will hold on to the fact that it can be pressed close together again:)
Looks like you had a great 4th! And I know this kind of feeling. It’s actually still going on even though my boys are growing and one or two is almost ready to launch. It’s always bittersweet. Thanks for this trip down memory lane for “me”, Christina!
I can imagine that it only gets more bittersweet as the years go by. I need to appreciate each moment I have. Blessings!
What a beautiful growing-up story. You told it so well, and I can relate, as my two girls are about the same age… They are 10 and 8.
Thanks, Jennifer! Everyday it’s something new. Time keeps marching on… Blessings!
You made me a bit teary over those stages that are just a memory now. And the pulling away accelerates when they hit middle school. One day they beg you to still put them to bed and rub their back and the next day they don’t want you to do that anymore. It’s hard to let go, but a joy to watch them grow too. Those desserts you made look amazing btw.
Yes, I love watching the changes and marveling at what God is making out of them. But it’s sad too…. I have to confess, I did not make the desserts:) Friends who came for the 4th made them, I was just the picture taker:)
Love your gifts. What I’d love for a day in pj’s right about now??? Yes, our little boys are always our little boys. Mine just married a few months ago. Oh what a mommy moment. Blessings!
Oh, scary thought! Can’t imagine my boys married:) Thanks for stopping by, Alene:)
What a precious story. They do grow up so fast. My heart melts when my pre-teen daughter still wants to snuggle, and my young-adult daughter still asks for a morning hug
Relationship trumps all!
Oh, so sweet that they still love hugs! Praying my boys never get too old for hugs. Blessings!
First let me say…yum…yum…your desserts looks so delicious. Oh Christina…you told this so well…and oh it is so true…isn’t funny…from the youngest of age…they are really always taking baby steps away from us…the first ones are so small…we don’t feel the tug so hard…walking…so they don’t need to be carried…dressing and feeding themselves…learning to ride a bike…drive a car…and then those cataclysmic changes come to a family…the ones that can the family structure permantely…but if we have that heart connection…even as they go…we still have each other deep in our hearts.
Yes, the heart connection. So true and so needed to maintain a relationship through all its changes. Thanks for visiting!
I just love the gratitude community!
Thanks for your sweet comment on my post about Psalm 23.
And thanks for visiting here! Blessings!
Tears are in my eyes. I have had so much of this same thought process this week with both Joshua and Abigail getting older. Joshua just seems so more boy now then toddler and I was telling my husband that I just wait for “those” moments. Those moments that I see my baby boy. Right after telling my husband this, Joshua came in from the other room as I was getting up and he just ran up to me and put his arms around me. Brent just smiled at me. I cherished it, it was perfect timing as was yours. So sweet. Great list!
Oh, I love it! God sent you a little blessing, a gift. I love those moments and cherish them. Blessings!
Oh boy, I have an 8 year old little boy…I can so relate. Beautiful post.
Thanks for your sweet words. And I’m so glad you visited!
Oh my heart I can hardly stand it! I’m a blubbery mess over here, girl…
and that was before I even got to your gift list! which was the most perfect frosting to this cake of sweetness…
You always make me smile:) Thanks for that. It’s hard not to cry when our kids do or say unexpected sweet things that melt our heart. Happy tears are good tears:)
Hey! You have a gorgeous blog as well. I was drawn to this post with all the fabulous pictures! Beautiful! I look so forward to getting your posts via email as a new follower! God bless and hope to communicate with you soon! Would love to collaborate! God bless! I love love love your blog and your blog title is perfect; just what we christian bloggers are trying to do in our little ministries
You are too kind! I love making new blogging friends and I’m so glad you found me here! Blessings!
Having raised 3 wonderful boys to Christian manhood, it brought sweet memories to mind as I read your post. Savor the moments as they fly by so quickly. And yes, they alway love their Mom, but life takes them on their individual path for God. I have no greater joy than to see them be men for Him. God is good!
You must have a great store house of wisdom for me! Three boys! Thanks so much for sharing a bit of your wisdom and experience here today. Blessings to you and yours!
Oh Friend…
I cried during that story —
Thank you so much for sharing it.
I have been seeing glimpses of the young men my boys will become, and this story definitely hits home for me.
*hugs*
Oh, I didn’t mean to make anyone cry! I’m glad it spoke to you though. It was a touching moment for me, another lesson learned, so I though I’d share it:) Thanks for stopping by!
Such lovely words, bless you.
Oh thank you, Denise!
Very touching. My baby boy will be a senior this year in high school. The time goes fast, so hold onto him while you can. Thanks for sharing!
Yes, too fast! I will appreciate the time I have. Thanks for stopping by!
How precious, and touching…yes, they are always our little boys even when they are 38 and we are so proud of the men they have become!
I can’t imagine him at 38, but I know it’ll happen all too soon:) Thanks for stopping by!
Great post. My ‘baby’ is now 14 and my other two are soon to be 21 and 19. It always amazes me how fast it goes. I love that they still come to me for advice and just to talk. Yes they are all very independent but this stage of life is pretty sweet as well.
My kids become more fun the older they get:) Thanks for visiting!
What a sweet story about your boy. My kids are 10 and 12, and there are still those moments when they need their mommy and I love it!
Thank you for linking up with Thankful Thursday.
Love the patriotic pictures!
Oh my. I can SO resonate having an 8 year old with the same logic issues! My husband says often he is convinced Ben will be a lawyer one day. He seems to be able to find any and every loophole in logic, and argues on technicalities. He, too, loses privileges for going too far.
But at the same time, he still sits with me and snuggles with me, if even temporarily or at best for the length of a movie. He’ll always be my little boy! What a blessing to read myself in you!!
Sarah