Who said you were allowed to grow up?

Eldest is going to be a freshman in high school this August. Excuse me… I’ll be right back. Okay! Just threw up, but I’m better now, thanks. Where the hell did the time go? I know, she’s only thirteen, but she’s gonna be fourteen and then thirty… someday! It’s actually exciting to see our relationship morph as she matures, even though at this moment I’m considered half parent/half mutant. But it doesn’t make it any easier letting go of the little girl who used to run into my arms when we’d say goodbye at preschool.

Now I understand why certain people have a lot of kids. No! Not just for religious reasons. There’s a yearning to recapture the innocence of youth, and the selfish desire to be the whole world to another individual. For as they grow, we become background and others take more prominent roles in our children’s lives. As it should be.

Well, I also have Youngest, who still loves to  hug and kiss and snuggle. Who still says, “I love you!” unabashedly. Thank heavens! I don’t know if my ego is strong enough to handle two children thinking of me as a toss-up between The World’s Most Embarrassing Parent and Queen of No Fun.

But in reality, how much longer do I have of this? My glory days are running out. Don’t get any crazy ideas, though. I’m not having any more children! My hubbie’s just gonna have to step up his game a bit, because my ego will need lots of stroking.

Eldest, I love her dearly, with every breath that I take. She is turning into a beautiful person with a beautiful soul. So, why do we argue over clothes? And why are you having crushes over boys?  And where the heck did that gorgeous figure come from? Hey, Eldest! Who said you were allowed to grow up?