It’s a funny thing watching your children grow, as time passes and birthdays come and go the realisation hits you that they are no longer your baby or your toddler.
They become little people, independent from you.
First they go to school, then on trips to the petting zoo and playdates. As the years go by they are all of a sudden young adults, the petting zoo turns into a weekend in Paris and the playdate becomes a house party.
It really does happen so fast.
Too fast.
Before you know it the small boy who used to be pressed against your hip in his Power Rangers pyjamas is buying a navy blue suit for the prom.
He doesn’t fit against your hip anymore because he’s a good foot taller than you. It’s the strangest thing, trying to figure out how this giant once fitted inside your body! How he grew and grew until he was bigger than six feet tall.
The little girl who you used to sit and wait for outside ballet class is now buying a bus day rider ticket and negotiating her way around the city to go shopping with friends.
I sometimes wonder if my older children remember the bond we had when they were little. Unbreakable still, yes, but so very different than it once was.
I wonder if my daughter knows that I still pause outside her bedroom to listen to her breathing each night on my way to bed.
I wonder if my son knows about the time I felt so panicked after the minibus departed for his first scout trip that I followed it all the way down the motorway just to check he was safe. He’s talking about getting a moped soon, how can I follow him now?
I can’t.
I know I have to accept that they are older and they don’t need me in the same way anymore but in many ways I hate it and I ask myself if that’s crazy or weird or if every mum feels the same way.
I am unbelievably proud of the young adults my children have become and all that they’ve achieved but when I look back on all our years together, I feel so nostalgic for the little people they once were and such a longing for those childhood days and back to a time when they would leave notes for the tooth fairy and still believed in Father Christmas.
For children it’s exciting to edge closer to those teenage years and young adulthood but for the parents it’s so bittersweet watching them grow and I don’t think I will ever get used to it because there’s never enough time to enjoy it, just as it is.
Children have the unforgivable habit of growing up-Bjarne Reuter
Title image credit:Pyjama School
You Baby Me Mummy
O.k so you just made me cry! This has given me tears and goosebumps. You talented lady you. xxxxx
Amy
Bless you darling Aby, thank you that means a lot xxxx
Lucy (Hello Beautiful Bear)
This made me well up, my daughter is only 5 months old but I can't cope with how quickly the time has passed, she's growing bigger every day, her face changes and she's so independent already....
I think about this every day, I'm so scared that I'm not treasuring every moment, that I'm going to blink and miss her childhood, I just wish it could stand still for a while so I had time to appreciate her without life getting in the way.
This is a beautiful post, as always. The last sentence just hit home so hard.
X X
Amy
Ahh time is so precious isn’t it? I always feel awful when I have those days when I feel I haven’t made the most of the children, if you know what I mean? I too wish time would stand still xx
zoe dunn
Oh its so true. My 2 boys are 8 and 9 and they need me less and less. At first I really pushed for this for their independence and now I'm trying desperately to claw it back much to their disgust. Lucky for all out sanity surprise number 3 came along so that's taken the edge off a bit. #brilliantblogposts
Amy
It really is isn’t it? I know what you mean about feeling differently when they are little too; I used to wish for them to be a bit older so they would sleep through or God forbid older still and go to school and now I miss those days so very much. Our littlest has definitely taken the edge off like yours, or I might just be stalking the two teenagers! x
Amy
It’s frightening Em! xx
Amanda
Oh this hit me in all the feels, those quotes sum it up perfectly.
They really do grow up too fast, my boys are only six and already I'm missing the way our relationship was.
This parenting malarkey is such an emotional roller coaster, the pride of seeing them grow in to extraordinary young adults competes with the bittersweet knowledge they really are no longer your little shadows who'd follow you everywhere.
I'm now off to weep into their baby blankets *sniff sniff*
Amy
Oh tell me about it Amanda, it is so frightening! Well, don’t make the blanket all soggy will you? I’ll be doing the same...x
Helen | Wonderfully Average
Oh this is so beautiful. It's something I think about a lot- whenever I'm having a bad day or he's being really clingy, I just think how much I'll miss it when he's bigger and doesn't need me so much. He's only 15 months: we still have so many exciting times ahead, so many childhood memories still to make, I will try to enjoy it all- even the bad days. Thank you for the lovely post #brilliantblogposts xx
Amy
Thank you for reading Helen, I really appreciate it. It’s so odd thinking about the future when you have a little one but time doesn’t half fly it’s lovely you are making the most of every minute xx
teacuptoria
I am dreading this chapter Amy. My boy is my world...what am I going to do when he doesn't want to hang out with me anymore? To be honest, it's already started..I get dropped like a hot potato when one of his friends calls round! I know that's how it should be but as you say, it doesn't make it any easier for us mums. I am soaking it all up, every single minute. xx
Amy
It is pretty awful huni but as you say it is as it should be and we would be worried if it were any other way. Still hard though xx
Blossom & Badger -Vikki
This is really lovely...and scary. My boys are 6 and 3 and growing oh-so-quick. Already dreading the moped phase!
Amy
The moped thing is absolutely dreadful Vikki I can’t bear the thought of it :( x
Katie / Pouting In Heels
Well my darling, I'm so glad I didn't read this yesterday on Elsie's birthday, as I would have been even more of an emotional wreck than I was!
Such a beautiful post that made me teary eyed. You really do have a lovely way with words. Elsie has only just turned three and I still look at her with utter disbelief that she is three already and no longer my 'baby' even though she always will be and they always are of course.
Parenting is so bitter sweet, I've never known anything to make me feel as happy, emotional, distraught or panicked. It's like it shows you the very best and the very worst of the world in one fail swoop.
But the thing is my love, with a mum like you, they're never ever gonna go far wrong. XXX
Hannah Parker
I love it! and hate it! How dare they grow up?? Really touching Amy xx thank you for sharing xxx
Alexandra @dontcallmestepmummy
Aww Amy this is beautiful. The thought of you on that motorway, argh that's going to be me. You are such an eloquent writer, good luck with the moped xxx
Rachel @ tenminutesspare
Such a beautiful post. My littl girl has just turned 3 and the time has just flown by. Every day I love to see her growing confidence and independence. I can only imagine how quickly the next few years will pass. Whilst I'm excited to see her develop into her own person, of course I appreciate and will undoubtedly miss these early days of motherhood. X
Haidee@Maybe Baby Brothers
That so made me tear up! What a lovely reminder to cherish these early years because I am sure they grow up in a blink of an eye.
Emma Jones
So I've just about regained my composure after being an emotional wreck when my 'baby' left primary school last week, then I read this! You have so beautifully summed up exactly how I feel. My boys are aged 15 and 11 and I wish I could just rewind and do it all again, they're growing up too fast! Xx
Emma's Mamma
Aw this is beautiful. I can imagine how heartbreaking it must be and at the same time how proud of them you must be. Thanks for sharing x
HonestMum
A beautiful post darling, it really is scary how quickly kids grow up, I was looking at Oliver today in all his long legged 5 year old glory and felt a little sad! Still with a cherubic face but so tall now, I instantly imagined him as a teenager. It brought tears to my eyes, because it really was only yesterday he was a babe in my arms. I love when we cuddle together in his bed before he sleeps, he holds onto me like he did when he was small, pinching at my neck (his thing) and it takes me right back. Your children are a testament to your parenting and deep love. This is was lovely. Thanks for linking up x
Natalie Ray
Ah bless, what a lovely post. I have to be honest I'm dreading this time already. Much as I'm looking forward to having a little more time to myself when they go to school I'm going to miss them so much. The fact that you drove down the motorway following the minibus did make me laugh though! And I think it would destroy his streetkred on his moped if you were pottering after him in your family car!xx
A Cornish Mum
They grow up way too quickly or my liking! My boys are 9 and 11 and both only a couple of years at most from being taller than shorty me...I have a mix of feeling sad they aren't small and cuddled up on my lap all the time any more, and feeling proud of the glimpses of the men I can see them becoming as they get older!
Stevie x
Natalie / @diaryofuem
I'm dreading Oliver growing up so much that I refuse to even think about nursery!! I remember them talking about this on This Morning one day and Philip Schofield saying his kids still 'fit' in under his neck when they snuggle in. I'm trying to think about that part as opposed to the fact that he is growing so big I soon won't fit in his bed to give him cuddles (maybe I'll just buy a bigger bed)
Katie
Mine is only (nearly) 6 months old but I am not quite sure what just happened to those 6 months. I swear we only came home from hospital yesterday. Lovely post xx
Amy Treasure
I know, it is so scary isn't it? Thanks huni xx
Erin
And now I'm crying. Thanks lol
I look forward to my son being older, us both being more independent, not that I don't love him currently. Life is just really hard as a young single mum!
http://www.makeerinover.co.uk
Amy Treasure
Oh bless you! It is SO bloody hard, I know xx