My son is no longer a child (sentimental & gooey)

So, I’m replying to **Eve’s ** thread about what’s on my desk. My eyes light on the stuff my kids gave me for my birthday a couple of weeks back. My daughter’s hand-made and colored card sits right next to her brother’s store bought one. And I got to thinking. This is the first store bought card my son has ever given me. Or for that matter, the first store bought gift (a beautiful pair of earrings).

And I start tearing up as I think…somewhere between the paper and crayon sunflower with his picture in the middle that he gave me for Mother’s Day and the earrings in July, my son reached a milestone. He’s hardly a man, but he’s not a little boy anymore, either.

This is not supposed to hurt!! I am supposed to be happy that my son is growing to be an independent person capable of making his own choices. But it does. It’s not fair! It’s not fair, I’m not ready, and I want back every single day I ever took for granted with that little boy.

Me too! I have pictures of my sons when they were little on my desk. I look at them everyday and wish I could pick up those sweet little boys again and rub my hand over their soft, sweet cheeks. sob

My oldest turns 21 tomorrow and, while I’m happy to see him become such a fine young man, I’m also in mourning.