Last night I sat on the couch nursing my 8 week old while looking over at my 8 year old as he struggled to learn how to play Risk.
It struck me how they both share the number 8 (for a few more days anyhow) and how different they are.
It seems like only yesterday my first born was 8 weeks old. He is so grown up now. Only a few inches shorter than me, long shaggy hair (a la Zack from Zack and Cody), in grade 3, struggling with homework, trying to get in as much play time as he can.
He is independent, gets up on his own in the morning, makes his own breakfast, showers himself. He helps with cooking dinner, helps with the care of his baby brother and his almost 5yo brother.
Of course life with an eight year old isn't all tea and roses but it is light years away from the dependence that is the life an 8 week old.
I keep reminding myself not to rush this baby along. He deserves to enjoy his baby hood without me begging him to nap longer, to nurse less often, to sleep more at night, to entertain himself while I clean, or blog.
This will be my last baby, I need to enjoy his baby-ness for everything it is. Independence will come eventually and then I will find myself wishing for him to be small. For me to be able to control his every move.
I think the truth is, I love both ages. I love the baby that snuggles up to me at all hours of the night and the boy who hasn't slept in our bed in over 3 years and who continually asks when he will be able to get his own job.
I love my boys (all 3 of them) and will remind myself to enjoy each for who they are. Who they will become can wait.
10 comments:
Lovely! I can hear in your words how hard you are trying with that baby. It's still fresh for me how I felt the same in the early weeks and then I blinked and here we are and he's 1. Let yourself feel all the feelings you need to, they are normal. 8 wks, 8 yrs, it's all wonderful but it's okay to yearn for the days when it will be a little easier.
Such a lovely post! I'm so glad to hear that you are doing well -- all five of you. My son says that 8 is the greatest age of all...guess he knows the truth!
It's so true re: not wanting to hurry them to be bigger. With #1 I was constantly wanting him to be on to the next stage, wishing all the baby-ness away. And this time around, I'm not wanting it to go by so quickly, cherishing each stage (good or bad!).
I often have to remind myself to not wish away the baby-days of my youngest. Or my oldest for that matter - I catch myself saying "I can't wait till they can..." but the truth is, yes I can wait. I love both their ages and need to be reminded of that more often.
Beautiful post.
I am trying not to rush them along too. Except for the sleeping thing. If they could just sleep I would be happy. :-)
It's hard to remember to enjoy the journey sometimes. Glad to know you're taking the time.
I totally have to remind myself ALL the time to enjoy each moment. The time is so fleeting, even when it does't feel like it will ever end!
Nice post, thanks for sharing this wonderful and useful information with us.
Green Tea
You are ALWAYS going to be glad you wrote this post. And can I just say? Your 8 year old sounds amazing.
Ah, so sweet! Isn't life with three fraught with wonder, joy and yes, the occasional challenge?
I was just saying yesterday that I find Lucas so unbearably adorable (who me, biased?) right now that there are times I wish I could freeze him in the right now. Then he wakes up three times in the night, dumps lego all over the floor, feeds an entire loaf of bread to the dog and refuses to stop climbing on the kitchen table and I wonder how much longer until he's through this latest phase.
And yeah, my big boy turns 8 next week and it's sometimes easy to forget he wasn't 8 wks old just yesterday, too!
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