Yesterday Isaac surprised us and came home for the weekend. (He was a little under the weather.) We tease Jeff because he is always saying to Isaac, "You grew inches, I can tell, you are so much taller, let's go see." We all roll our eyes and laugh. And then everyone is forced to measure up. Isaac has at least an inch on me now. No doubt they will all be way taller than their mom. And much to Abbey's relief she is still growing-she passionately desired to be a little taller than she is currently.
Today I am putting my sentimentality aside and I'm grateful for my healthy, growing children. Oh, you'd bet I'd love to have them all dressed in matching pajamas, playing with trucks or dolls all day and going to bed at 8:00 p.m. for the rest of my life. Those chubby fingers and toes and almost-always sweet dispositions, and my ability to keep most of the outside reality out and the my own little reality in-those were good days.
But the true reality is that children grow. And my job is, in essence, to work myself out of my job. And their job, as children, is to grow-not just physically, but mentally and emotionally, to thrive in the world today, with my husband and I as guiding forces.
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My dad once told me that the sign of a good manager is that the employee eventually doesn't need his/her guidance to do the job well. I've held on to that and apply it to parenting--with a caveat: that kids want to come back home, even when they don't have to. Looks like you have a misson (though still in progress) accomplished!
ReplyDeleteI have been feeling sooo sad lately as my oldest is on the verge of teenager-ism and my baby is turning 3 next month. This post captured just how I feel about wanting to keep the world out. Like it or not it's pounding on our door and it's my job to arm my kiddos sufficiently for the battles ahead.
ReplyDeleteIt's so true. I have days where I look back and remember how much I loved that. And moments where I'm in the thick of it and love this too. And then watch my mother with grown children swirling whirling around her at get togethers and think how much I will love that too.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time with him home! I swore Katie grew the first time we saw her after she left for school this fall.
ReplyDeleteYou are such an amazing and wonderful encouragement! I love that last paragraph--oh, how I long for those days when I created our reality, but it is our job to help them grow up and be guiding forces!
ReplyDeleteSo true! And it goes so darn fast!!
ReplyDeleteDressed in matching pajamas...the ones with the snaps! I loved putting my children in those. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteYou are precious. And an excellent guiding force!
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