Stop Graowing Up Already!

I’ve been noticing the colors of Fall this week. It seems that this year has gone by faster than normal. Christmas is right around the corner and my kids are making me feel older than they should.
Chance is nine now. I look at him and wonder how he got this big. It seems like yesterday that he was starting school. Now a seasoned vet at the school thing he is in Fourth grade. He is going to be as tall as me in one more year. (I know that’s not saying much- I’m only five foot two.) I worry about needing to look up to yell at my teenager. Will it make my threat less effective if I need to look up?
He is starting to get embarrassed by public affection from his parents. It’s a little scary when you are in that in between age, you still need mom and dad to give you a hug now and then but at the same time you don’t want to need them.
Faith on the other hand is a sweet darling four year old. She is innocence personalized but really cunning at getting her own way. She has a really independent streak and won’t do what anyone wants her to do. She has recently discovered that she can just sit there and say NO. Drives me crazy. She still thinks mom and dad rule the world. In her eyes we are the superheroes. Dad can fix any toy and mom and makes all bumps and scrapes better.
When you are a child and talk about being a parent you will promise yourself that you won’t say those annoying things that your parents say to you. Examples of this are the tried and true “Because I said so” and “I’m the mom and that’s why?” As often as I have tried to not say these, they make perfect sense now. Mom knows best after all. So I have finally given up. Now I can say “if you are going to cry I may as well spank you and give you something to cry about.” Or a variation of that.
When you have children you need to take the time to stop and really look at them. They grow up too fast. I feel as though I will blink and they will be moving out, no longer needing mom and dad to tuck them in and kiss them goodnight