I am the first to celebrate when my children reach a new milestone in their development. My hands clapped with pride when they rolled over for the first time. I showered them with praise as each of them took their first wobbly steps. I made up songs about happy carrots as I slipped their first bites of pureed veggies into their sweet little mouths.
Gratitude fills my heart that they are happy and healthy children. Yet, I didn't anticipate that my heart would also ache so much as they grew up. It seems that just when I get comfortable with where they are in their development, they change and a little bit of their childhood is left behind. I find myself feeling sentimental as I pack up forgotten toys and outgrown clothes.
A good friend of mine recently gave birth to a baby boy. I decided to give her all of the boys' outgrown clothes. It was bitter sweet to go through the boxes of tiny jammies and onesies and say goodbye to each tiny piece that I had been saving for so many years.
Both of my children wore those clothes. They held so many sweet memories of those early days we had spent together. When it came time to sort through the countless boxes, I left the boys with my husband for a bit and closed the door to look at the clothes in privacy.
I touched them all and took a moment to remember my baby boys in them. Memories filled my mind of late night snuggles or playing on a blanket on the floor. After I had smelled them and held them up to look at them one last time, I lovingly folded them and placed them in a box to hand over to my dear friend, who was just starting her journey into motherhood.
I felt the same twinges of sadness when my younger son outgrew his crib. He crawled out of it in the middle of the night and met me in the dark hallway. We both looked at each other like we were surprised to see the other standing there. I sat down on the floor, pulled him into my lap, said goodbye to my little baby, and hello to my toddler.
I know that I have to move forward with them as they grow and change or I will get left behind. The day we removed his crib, I wondered into the room alone and ran my hands along the dark wood. I laughed to myself when I noticed the bite marks my son left behind, rubbing his teeth along the crib rail when he pulled himself up and waited for me to fetch him in the morning. I shed a few dramatic tears, quickly wiped my face, and then celebrated with my son as he jumped and rolled around in his new "big boy" bed.
I have learned to pay my respects to the memories of their youth swiftly. The truth is that it helps me to enjoy who they are now and relish the moment. I also have to look forward rather than spend too much time looking back. Sure, it's emotional to think of my children growing up and needing me less, but we have so many wonderful moments ahead of us.
Like going to the movies as a family on Friday nights when the boys are older, or planning family trips that don't have to revolve around nap schedules. I can't wait to let them drive me around town when they are 16 or watch with pride as they one day walk down the aisle with a beautiful bride on their arm.
I hope always to look forward with excitement as they reach each new milestone. Really, giving their baby clothes away was a milestone for me. too. It marked the day that I decided to move forward with my sons. They needed me to.
Do you struggle with watching your children grow or do you look ahead with enthusiasm? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
Rebecca McCarthy
11:11 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Leigh, I have a cousin who just couldn't bear not to have a baby in the house....so she had five children, thereby delaying the inevitable. Bravo to you for giving away those things your boys no longer needed. I have a dress and a bib I'm keeping, but the rest is either sold or given away. We don't have room for all their stuff!
June
12:02 pm on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
I am right there with you on this subject. I have one child. She was 13 months old when she was handed to us in a hotel conference room in China. At first, some of her milestones came slowly due to some developmental delays. However, the milestone still came and we were on to more so quickly I thought I must surely be in a time warp. I did shed tears when I gave away the dress she wore for her preschool "graduation" ceremony. I get teary at every piano recital as I compare to the year before and how quickly she has become a young lady.
I remember a night we all 3 were in the van and she wanted to listen to her Taylor Swift CD. As she sat in the back of the car singing along with Taylor, I cried for all the children's CDs that we used to sing everywhere we went. Love songs in place of "O Be Careful Little Eyes". really? Not my baby!
I wouldn't stop her life anywhere along the way but, as Cher sang, "If I could turn back time" just once, I really think I would just to savor just one special moment.
That tiny, bald, skinny and very scared baby we were handed in China is about to turn 12 and is finishing 6th grade. These days I dare not shop for any clothing for her without her presence and approval. Now clothing wears out instead of being outgrown. Her delightful squeals of "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy's home" have been replaced with eye-rolling and "Oh, it's you" as I walk through the door. But I still see my baby girl in that precious face and she'll always be my baby...
Jesse
12:31 pm on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
For some reason, I don't get sentimental when my kids outgrow clothes and toys. The way I see it, it's just stuff that will be replaced with new stuff. Or maybe I'm in denial. Beautiful post, Leigh.
Sue Anderson
2:33 pm on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Both! But I have to admit that I wasn't very sentimental when my kids grew out of clothes and such. For me, it was those big milestone days that got to me.
Having said that, now that they are grown...any little thing that reminds me of their early years makes me feel nostalgic and sentimental. I have lots of photos around our home, and those ones of them when they were little can put a tear in my eye at times!
=)
Leigh Hewett
2:36 pm on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
My mother-in-law says that if she could have one wish that it would be to get to spend one day with her babies again. Makes me treasure the present with my little ones so much more.
Teresa Ebel
5:37 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
It's so good to know that I'm not alone. I have one child, a son, who is turning 12 this year and I yearn for the precious baby/toddler years when I could cuddle him. I remember thinking I need to enjoy and make the most of these years while he is little but the worry and stress of keeping him fed, clean, healthy and safe took their toll. Now, I hold special baby/toddler outfits against my heart from time to time and wonder where the time has gone. Thank you God for making me a mother and help me to cherish each and every day for it won't be long before he is grown.
Linda Labbo
5:38 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
" It marked the day that I decided to move forward with my sons. They needed me to."
What a great quote from your beautiful article. It was written with the sensitivity and nostalgia that so many of us mommas feel as our kiddos grow through their stages of life. We are so privileged to share the journey. You are right... no matter what the age, we go forward with our children. Even adult children need us to do that!
Thanks for a great post.
Caroline U
5:39 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Oh Leigh! First things first: with so much crappy writing on the internet, it's always refreshing to come by here and read your work. You have a style of writing that paints such great visuals, and even touches the other senses. I read your words and I can see and even smell things and I am reminded of my own memories. Not many writers have that gift. Athens Patch is lucky to have you!! I come here all the way from Baltimore!
Okay, now onto business:
It's funny because even though we have a big crew, I am really not that sentimental about baby things and keeping them but just like you I am sentimental about the clothes my babes wore. But toys, for instance, especially the ones that make annoying noises--they are pretty easy to give away! :)
But, I know (and feel really lucky to have realized this now) that they grow SO fast. So I am relishing the moment!
Erinbjenkins
5:40 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
i can hardly think about the moment when he leaves the house without crying my eyes out. the milestones are not so hard for me. we have to move forword to keep up. like you said, it helps us to enjoy the moment, now.