What I’ll Miss When My Kids Grow Up
I was exhausted last night. I did another marathon post-bedtime poop party with my daughter. I swear she poops at will and her will is AFTER I have put her to bed. She pulls the poop card to get out of bed and hang out. She sits on the potty for 30 minutes and somehow pulls poop out of her ass little touchy literally and figuratively. It doesn’t matter if she has pooped twice already during the day. Come 8:30 pm, she waltzes in for her poop party. Did I mention she likes me to hold her hands to help “push the big poop out”. (I know, I am a sucker). So I sit, on the bathroom floor, holding my daughter’s hands while she talks to me, gets me to sing “There’s a Whole In My Bucket” and pushes out the poop.
Last night nearly killed me. I was tired, had a horrible headache and today is the first day back to work and school. As I sat there fuming, she bent over and kissed my forehead. In that moment, I pulled it together and reminded myself that despite the trials of parenthood, there are some amazing parts too.
I am writing myself a list of the things I will miss when my kids are all grown up, so that I don’t take these precious moments for granted. It is my intent to refer to this list when I am tempted to daydream about fast-forwarding to the part where they are grown up and out of the house.
Here’s a start:
- Falling asleep cuddled up with them
- Waking up to kisses on my nose
- Receiving hugs that nearly knock me over
- Spontaneous and surprise art projects
- Hearing the giggles from the other room when they are playing well together
- Hearing them running through the hall to come see me when they get home from school
- “I love you Mommy”
- “Mommy, will you snuggle me?”
- Watching their excitement at Christmas
- Seeing them accomplish a goal for the first time – waterskiing, a soccer goal, a somersault
- Seeing their eyes light up when something delights them
- Cute mispronunciation of words
- Eskimo kisses
- Butterfly kisses
Clearly, this list could go on forever. Just starting this list has put me back in my zen mommy place. It’s only breakfast, so who knows how long it will last, but I can always work on this list some more if when they dump their cereal on the floor.
What will you miss?
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Slightly Off-Balance 
that picture is precious! I will miss the innocence. My son likes to run around half naked after he goes to the bathroom- WHEN in life is that ever acceptable? My daughter likes to unzip her jammies and walk around the house like Don Johnson in Miami Vice…can’t do that when they are swinging down to your knees!
Jamie – How do your kids know Miama Vice?! More importantly, how do you? You look so young!
I’m not sure how they know it…I always say she is channeling her inner-Elvis, but I don’t know how she would know him either! I am 32- I know Miami Vice- not that well, but I do! 🙂 And thanks for the compliment- I keep seeing pictures of myself from a few years ago and think- wow, so youthful and rested…
My daughter also uses poop as a weapon! Back when I was still attempting to make her take afternoon naps, she used to pull the nuclear option — she’d poop and then play with it in her crib. Needless to say, naps were over by age 2.
But thanks for the reminder about how even the less-than-glamorous moments are over in a flash. Whenever my daughter begs me to lay down with her for “two more minutes” at night, I always try to remind myself that we’re just a few short years from her slamming her door in my face and banishing me from her room.
God gives us we can handle. I could not have handled the nuclear option!!!
My kids are clearly older than yours (11 and 13) and your memories made my eyes water. What I will miss from the stage mine are in now is their willingness (downright determination, actually) to tell me every detail of their day. Often four times (if the story’s really good, they like to repeat it. a lot). Sometimes, I’m tired or distracted, or busy trying to work and their words are pouring over me like noise. And I try to pause. And listen. And soak up the fact that this will not last forever. That soon, I will ask them, “How was your day?” and hear them say, “Fine.” and then silence.
I’m not ready for the silence.
JCG
Julie – I fear the silence. I fear the day reverse psychology doesn’t work. I fear the day I have no enticing bribes to offer. At 11 and 13, I am guessing it is special that you’re still getting full details. I have a few neighbors who lost details by that age. Bravo to you that they want you to know every detail. I hope to be one of those moms.
As the mom of a grown child and three teenagers, I know just how quickly the time passes. Every now and then, thank God, I get a surprise hug, a kiss on the cheek or a gentle nudge from one of my teens to remind me that my little ones are still there. There are also many things you will get to experience with them as firsts when they get older as well (driving, dates, college visits, etc.). It’s different, but it’s still amazing. Hugs, Diane
I will miss the shared looks of delight, horror, exasperation with my husband over my daughter’s antics. The lastest: the way she shakes her boomboom with wild abandon.
Mads – Your daughter and my daughter could totally hang out! I am pretty sure she has a lucrative career as an exotic dancer ahead.
I so agree with you!! My boys strip naked and sing the Naked Brothers song. I will miss that. My little one drives me crazy and sleeps in our bed every night (no wonder my husband goes months without getting any!) but he snuggles into me and kisses me and I love it so much that he trumps my husband. Just for the moment. A great thing to remember for the new year, because our children also know the exact buttons to push!!!
I think I need to hear the Naked Brothers song…
OK, ready?
“We are the naked brothers and we hate clothes!”
Yep, that is the refrain. I think I will be safe from fame and fortune.
I don’t know… throw them on Idol. The guy singing “Lookin’ like a fool with your pants hangin’ down” made it. I think your boys theme is a strong one!
Love, love, love that picture.
What will I miss? Being captured by an imaginary web slung by my Colebert, then carefully being pulled into him so he can share a secret. The secret was “You’re my favorite, Mommy”.
Thanks Kali, it’s one of my favorites! I love the web with “you’re my favorite”. Made my heart melt!