Do you cry when milestones are reached? I sit here, on yet another monumental day, thinking: how on earth do we parents process all the emotions that pump through our veins? The bewildering mix of great pride when something new is learned, terrible fear about an uncertain future, blood-curdling anger at bad behavior, unbridled joy when we hear our children laugh and so many other emotions that course through our veins on a daily basis – all mixed together in a bowl called love deep, immeasurable, unconditional, life-changing and life-giving LOVE.
Every thought, every feeling that our children inflict upon evoke within us, is intense and I often wonder how we parents survive that.
Yesterday my dear Sir and HULK headed off for first grade and kindergarten. Big smiles on their faces, not a care in the world. Saying goodbye to Sir seemed a little harder, because (as it should be) I wasn’t given the time to linger, kiss, and cuddle as I wanted to. (As I’m sure MOST moms wanted to). To just hold him one moment longer. He just gave me this reassuring smile, saying, Mom, you’ve got this! Then he turned and ran to his class…
Stop my beating heart!
Luckily I got to spend an hour with HULK and his teacher, being introduced to how things are done in the class. He was beyond excited, bouncing up and down like TIGGER, about to explode with curiosity. He kept saying: “Look mom, I’m a big kid now.”
Bless!
Walking away from this, down that LONG corridor, and out the school building, there was the very familiar, almost ever-present, lump in my throat and tears threatening to fall.
It’s a bittersweet moment. I mean, it’s not that we don’t want them to grow up and reach that next phase in their development. But it is in some ways a little sad because, with every milestone that is reached, it feels like they need us a little less. That they are outgrowing their dependence on us. Â Yes, we know is a good thing, but that doesn’t make it any easier! I often find myself thinking: “I will never get that moment back.”
In some instances, we tend to rush some milestones, eagerly waiting for that first smile, the first tooth, the first step. We anticipate all these “first” experiences and spend so much time behind the camera trying to freeze this moment in time, that we might actually not get to experience it in the full!
Oh to be a parent!!! :)
I cry when milestones are reached because they remind me of what my child has achieved. Whether it was difficult or not. I cry when milestones are reached because I’m proud of them. I cry when milestones are reached because I waited so long for these kids that I just want to lock them in a glass box and protect them from the world! I cry when milestones are reached because it means (for me), that I have done something right. Their achievements become my achievements. I may not be perfect, and I may have made countless bad choices, but when I look at my children and the achievements they have/are, and will make, the emotions just burst forth.
It makes me one happy/emotional/proud/joy-filled/excited Mama. (Any other adjectives you would like to add :)…
Milestones are to be treasured, and yes sometimes (most times) cried over!
Milestones they are indeed! I am a granny now and I still cry over milestones like this …. part of being a mom and a granny I guess.
Such a joy to experience it all! It goes way to fast!
Aw what a lovely post! I agree, they’re both sad and exciting. I tend to focus on the positive because if I spent any time thinking of the sad parts I’d be in tears all the time!
#FamilyFun
Oh most definitely, and we wouldn’t want that, now would we! xx
This Back to School thing is an emotional roller coaster. I can’t stand it, yet we go through it every year and it usually turns out just fine. And it’s not like I can run and hide from it either. Just such a range of emotions, like you put so eloquently.
Amen to that! :)
Back to school is hard- esp when your kiddo would much rather be home with you. I have one who loves school and one who cries. The hardest milwstone for me though is always when the babies grow out of newborn clothes.
#familyfun
Aah, those little clothes, I have piles still. I just can’t seem to get rid of them! xx
I am actually so scared of my little one starting school (she’s only 15m so I have a while haha) but even the thought of it makes me teary!
We’ve had a lot of tears of joy in this two-momma household. 3rd Grade and Kindergarten! When on earth did that happen? Milestones beat kidney stones. Just would like it to slow down a bit. #stayclassymama #ablogginggoodtime
hahahaha! Oh they do! Great analogy! :)
Aww bless you! Our children grow so fast its hard to hold on them and it’s beautiful to watch them grow. Yes milestones come and go, I burst with pride when I get my cheeky chappy smiling at me. He’s too young at the moment for school but at play groups he crawls off and out the door without a look back sometimes and I wonder if its cos he knows I’m following or whether its because he is that brave and can go face the world on his own! It really is beautiful! Thanks for linking up to #FamilyFun. Hope you can come back next week!
He is growing so quickly.. I love that we get to watch watch each others children grow. It’s so special. Thanks for reading Karen!
i was nearly crying when my son went back to school in September and its not even his first year, but it was his first year wearing a uniform and he just looked so grown up! #bloggerclubuk
Don’t you just love those uniforms. They look gorgeous, all neat and big! xx
Iv been feeling this a lot lately, I think it’s all the starting school posts floating around. Mine are still in one and two and I find myself willing them on to their next step, yet in doing so it is like you say something else they have learnt for themselves that they no longer need me for! I have little doubt that there will be threats in my eyes as I drop them at the school gates for the first time but that is a few years a way yet. Thank you so much for joining us at #familyfun. Hope you can come back again next week xx
Time flies and its those little moments that we need to enjoy and treasure! Thanks for reading! x
I hear you. I feel you. My 2.5 year old started early preschool last month. When he first started and I cried, a friend told me that one day, soon, I would look forward to having him gone and I admit I have done that on days when I simply have to get a gazillion things done. With a 5-month-old to care of as well, it’s not all me time when he is away and in fact, I miss him terribly when he is gone. Knowing that he is in good hands and knowing that he is learning skills that will make him a socially competitive human being (other things, I can teach), I am okay with letting go.
I loved where you say that with every new independent act, they need us less and less. Sigh. What mixed emotions! #familyfun #BloggerClubUK
Thanks for reading Suchitra! It’s important for us to let go, I agree. Doesn’t make it any easier though! But we need to give them room to grow!
I struggle with this too! I look so forward to every stage but when my babe reaches a new milestone it’s such a flood of emotions! I can’t help thinking “this is the last…” It kills me sometimes wanting her to be little forever but loving watching her grow up. It’s an onslaught of emotions!
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