The emergence of this little boy into the world changed my life more radically and quickly than anything else ever has. He's been teaching me about motherhood and kids and life since he was conceived, almost 5 years ago now. 
Josiah is not without his difficulties at 4 years of age- whining and grouchiness being his big vices at the moment- but honestly, parenting him just gets easier and more enjoyable. He's always up for any kind of game. He has a cheesy sense of humor. He loves watching sports with us. He's quite independent. Dresses and undresses himself, gets his own snacks, gets out of bed, goes to the bathroom, and reads quietly in his room in the morning. Gets in and out of the car by himself. Stays happily at preschool 3 mornings a week. Clears his dishes from the table.
Every passing month I notice how he's less and less physically dependent on us. Of course, I believe he'll always need us in other ways, but it's still a reminder that raising little kids is short-lived, and eventually these precious bundles will be teenagers, happier doing things with their friends than their parents, and will be adults who forget to call home because their weeks are too busy. I know that, and I'm expecting that. I've had children, fully intending to raise them and send them out as independent, capable, loving grown ups to live their own lives. But, one of the things Josiah has taught me, just by being my son, is that that will be harder than I thought. Sending him off into the world, even beginning with kindergarten, will be a bigger issue in my heart than I used to think it would be. However, in the meantime, I have this wonderful little boy who wants nothing more than to spend time with me and talk with me and love me, and I'm beyond thankful for him.
Josiah is not without his difficulties at 4 years of age- whining and grouchiness being his big vices at the moment- but honestly, parenting him just gets easier and more enjoyable. He's always up for any kind of game. He has a cheesy sense of humor. He loves watching sports with us. He's quite independent. Dresses and undresses himself, gets his own snacks, gets out of bed, goes to the bathroom, and reads quietly in his room in the morning. Gets in and out of the car by himself. Stays happily at preschool 3 mornings a week. Clears his dishes from the table.
Every passing month I notice how he's less and less physically dependent on us. Of course, I believe he'll always need us in other ways, but it's still a reminder that raising little kids is short-lived, and eventually these precious bundles will be teenagers, happier doing things with their friends than their parents, and will be adults who forget to call home because their weeks are too busy. I know that, and I'm expecting that. I've had children, fully intending to raise them and send them out as independent, capable, loving grown ups to live their own lives. But, one of the things Josiah has taught me, just by being my son, is that that will be harder than I thought. Sending him off into the world, even beginning with kindergarten, will be a bigger issue in my heart than I used to think it would be. However, in the meantime, I have this wonderful little boy who wants nothing more than to spend time with me and talk with me and love me, and I'm beyond thankful for him.
1 comment:
Is it possible for me to just cut out this post and past it into my own blog? You have captured exactly how I've been feeling lately. When Hannah begs me to "Sit down Mommy!" or Andrejs looks up at me with his big eyes imploring me to pay him some attention, I need to stop and remember that cooking dinner/doing laundry/paying bills/drafting agreements etc., while necessary, can and should be left for another day. (Although not every day, or we would be one hungry, dirty, poor family with no running water or heat.)
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