I vividly recall sitting in class one day and thinking "One day, I will be in grade twelve and I will remember sitting here in this desk and wishing I was in grade twelve." I was so excited to grow up, to be older. I can no longer remember if there were other parts to that memory; if I had special plans or anything, just that I wanted to remember the desire. And I did - still do.
Ethan has never shown anything other than an interest in a future career to go along with getting older. Ocean is a preteen and impatiently awaiting all of those amazing firsts she will experience on her journey to womanhood (Heaven help me). Aaron has been impatiently awaiting the day when his wants override ours. Ethan, not so much at all.
I'm amazed at how the realization has hit me, and how I tell my expectant adults that they really have very little time to be children. I'm probably getting through to them just as much as my Mom did to me but it's true - and it really does happen quickly. I didn't see it much before but when I really think about it, the time that seems to be the longest is before they become school-aged. Then it just flies.
And it's difficult not to let them get excited about all of the things that becoming an adult brings: driving, increased responsibility and autonomy, career choices, college, travel... there are so many benefits to being older. I count myself lucky, and them too, that I have as many children as I do because they have been able to enjoy their time with one another and I have been able to keep them at home more often. This is the only time of their lives that I have that control - and I hope they come back often too.
Thinking about my moment in grade four, I gave Ethan a big hug and assured him "I would love to go back to grade four!" He looked up at me with those beautiful blue eyes and said "Um, okay, but I'm in grade five." Oh yeah - that's right.
No comments:
Post a Comment