The sole reason of this blog, truly, was so that someday when my boys said "Where's MY baby book? You don't have any pictures of my third birthday?! You don't remember my first words." I could say no, BUT I wrote down a lot of other stuff.
When they were younger it was easier. They were cute, the stories were cute. By Junior high, the stories are not so cute anymore. I seem to start to write about them and it turns into a rant about the world we live in. A friend was lamenting the other day about these ages and the era of - FORTNITE. Why didn't anyone tell me about this! They said, Oh babies are so hard you'll be so tired, but you will forget it and do it all over again. No one said, This is as good as it gets. Being tired, being in control, knowing where they are at and what they are doing. Enjoy it. It goes too fast.
sigh.........................
So I'm here to write to my boys. Inhale that baby smell, everyday, even at 3 am when you have been up for 24 hours and sleep is not in the near future. Tickle that toddler, kiss that curious questioner, laugh at the laboriousness of teaching a pre-schooler anything. (because you will say it 500 times before it sinks in) Smile at shoes on the wrong feet, and Batman in the backseat on Sunday Morning. In all fairness, you did say "Dress-up clothes".
Be patient with the I hate broccoli, I love broccoli, I hate broccoli, I love broccoli. When you are teaching them to tie a shoe, ride a bike, or set the table. Let them help you crack eggs, make cookies, clean the house, the yard, the car and don't worry if it is messier after you are finished. I promise they are learning.
What comes next gets messier and scarier than a skinned knee. A little cold. A tummy-ache. Did I let you cry enough? Too much? Becomes, can he get expelled, kicked off the team, arrested? Laying awake at night to watch them breathe becomes laying awake at night wondering if they are breathing and where? Making yourself sick. What kind of a parent am I? How did this happen?
My boys haven't stopped being cute. Quite the opposite. They are very cute, beautiful, smart, athletic, kind, funny, talented. I would rather hang out with them then anyone else. They are awesome. Maybe that's part of it. They are awesome, they have lives that are getting bigger and mine is getting smaller. I revolve around them. They are my Sun. I am their Pluto.....but that's ok.
But what I will say to them as new parents is the late nights and worry will not end, you just won't always have them in your arms. So while you do enjoy every moment you can. Sleep when they do, pray, laugh, and love, love love. Be a lighthouse of love beaming out to them at all times so they can always find their way home.
Ask yourself a lot - What would Grandma do? Then do that thing. Do not wait 50 years to enjoy yours kid's kids. Spoil them once in a while, play with them often, take a pictures (or 500), write a blog or a note or a post. Read to them, sing to them, dance with them no matter how old they get. Kiss them every chance you get even if they are 6'3" on Varsity and have a girlfriend.
No matter what - keep the light beaming. I promise I will.
