Certain moments in the lives of my children have turned me into a weepy mess. The last nursing session, the first haircut (he looks so grown up!), the last day of preschool, the first loose tooth (and the first GIGANTIC adult tooth).
These are the moments when Jeff and I look at each other, sigh, and say, “Our babies aren’t babies anymore.”
But if I’m being completely honest, after the gut-wrenching moments have passed, I find myself kind of loving being out of the baby stage. (Am I allowed to say that?)
Sure, those clean kissable baby feet have turned into stinky kid feet.
But those stinky kid feet can now march themselves into the shower all by themselves.
Those squishy baby cheeks aren’t so squishy any more.
But 99 nights out of 100 I’m sleeping through the night, so my cheeks are a little perkier.
I don’t get to use a stroller anymore to carry all my crap.
But now we can go on family bike rides and ride real roller coasters.
Yes, each stage brings new challenges (I can feel the “where do babies come from” question lurking around the corner). But every stage is better than the last. People tell you that all the time, and it turns out to be true.
To be able to have genuine conversations with my children is an incredible thing. At this point they are still mixed in with fart jokes and whining and such, but still…
I think part of the reason I love being out of the baby stage is that I wasn’t very good at the baby stage. I wasn’t that relaxed mom who could wear her baby around town and carry on with a normal life. I was the basket case who was afraid to leave the house, baggy-eyed and constantly twisted up in anxious knots (What if I’m doing this mothering thing wrong?).
And yes, I know, the teenage years will be challenging. People love to tell you all about that. But right now…I’m taking a deep breath and enjoying this moment of mothering two non-babies who can carry on a conversation, tell me what they need when they need it, and wash out their own armpits.
Right now. This. This is a good space to be in, and I’m making the most of it.
I totally agree! Love babies but it is a relief to be past that stage. Beautiful pictures! I’m sure it’s so much easier to travel and move now too!! Enjoy your new place- always love your posts.
I love this! It’s really the state I’m in right now. We just moved the baby to the final car seat, and it feels good. I’ll always cherish my babies but am loving my “in-betweens” right now!
A to the men!
My kids are 11, 10, 4, 2 and 9 months. Before baby no. 3 was born, I was LOVING the in between. So I agree! We were so active and going on adventures! But now that I’m nursing the fifth… I just can’t imagine this being the last baby. I love babies. 🙂