Children are always changing, learning and developing sometimes right in front of your eyes. If you don't see a child every day sometimes you can't believe how tall they are all of a sudden or how mature they have become. Our nephew is a good example. He was a cute round faced boy and then it seemed that the next time I saw him he was a much taller, handsome young person with the face of the man he is becoming. So different, so fast!
In the case of our younger daughter, I have really noticed how different ten is from eleven and I have the sense that twelve will also be a big jump in maturity, knowledge and interests. Our ten year old daughter wanted Lego for Christmas; at eleven she wants an H&M gift card. At ten, she wanted photographic proof that Santa was real; at eleven, she has her own theories about that guy. At ten, she needed nothing with her when she went out the door; at eleven, she remembers to bring her purse with her iPod, wallet and lip gloss inside. I used to read to her at bedtime; now she reads to me.
As an older mother, these changes in my child are bittersweet. That she is older is true and that also means that I am not only older but old, as well. Sometimes there is a sore knee, a new wrinkle--- this week I have ringing in my ears which will not go away, a sure sign that deafness is right around the corner, according to the Internet. We all want our children to be smart, strong and independent and when you also have a special needs child that goal is ever present in your mind. However, I sometimes long for those crazy, hazy, baby days when just getting yourself in the shower and your baby out of her sleeper and into some real clothes was enough of an objective for the day. Now there are places to drive to, youth groups and dance lessons, movies and sleepovers, pizzas to pay for or pick up. Sometimes, just sometimes I wouldn't mind looking for that soother one more time...now where did I see that again?
In the case of our younger daughter, I have really noticed how different ten is from eleven and I have the sense that twelve will also be a big jump in maturity, knowledge and interests. Our ten year old daughter wanted Lego for Christmas; at eleven she wants an H&M gift card. At ten, she wanted photographic proof that Santa was real; at eleven, she has her own theories about that guy. At ten, she needed nothing with her when she went out the door; at eleven, she remembers to bring her purse with her iPod, wallet and lip gloss inside. I used to read to her at bedtime; now she reads to me.
As an older mother, these changes in my child are bittersweet. That she is older is true and that also means that I am not only older but old, as well. Sometimes there is a sore knee, a new wrinkle--- this week I have ringing in my ears which will not go away, a sure sign that deafness is right around the corner, according to the Internet. We all want our children to be smart, strong and independent and when you also have a special needs child that goal is ever present in your mind. However, I sometimes long for those crazy, hazy, baby days when just getting yourself in the shower and your baby out of her sleeper and into some real clothes was enough of an objective for the day. Now there are places to drive to, youth groups and dance lessons, movies and sleepovers, pizzas to pay for or pick up. Sometimes, just sometimes I wouldn't mind looking for that soother one more time...now where did I see that again?
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