The other day at the town beach I watched a woman with three kids, one of them a two-year-old, attempting to unload all the kid crap from her car.
She had her hands full.
Literally.
She had a stroller and more than one beach bag and an umbrella and sand toys and a whole assload of other kid crap.
And the three kids.
She was sweating profusely before she even took two steps away from her car.
I watched this mom struggle to just get across the parking lot.
I have been struggling, too.
Struggling with our youngest going to kindergarten.
Struggling with my baby not being a baby anymore.
Struggling with knowing that the baby-making phase of my life is over.
Until recently.
Because I’ve come to a realization.
I’m ready.
I’m ready for my kids to be able to navigate the playground without a spotter.
I’m ready to be able to read more than one paragraph of a book before I’m either interrupted by a child or I fall asleep.
I’m ready to be able to sit my ass on a beach chair for more than forty-five consecutive seconds.
I’m ready for my kids to be the age where the thought of seeing me taking a shower completely repulses them.
I’m ready for my kids to be able to cross the road or run into the grocery store by themselves.
I’m ready for kids to know how to use major appliances without killing, burning, or maiming themselves.
I’m ready for kids who can occupy themselves when they wake up on a Saturday morning rather than barging into my room at the crack of dawn.
I’m ready to be able to relax when my kids are within ten feet of a body of water.
I’m ready for kids who can tie their own shoes and buckle their own seat belts.
I’m ready to take all those protective plastic things out of the electrical outlets, and I’m ready to have cabinet doors I can open freely.
I’m ready for kids who can brush their teeth and wipe their butts by themselves, no matter how nasty a poop they take.
I’m ready for kids who are self-sufficient and independent.
I’m ready to not only accept the fact that my kids are growing up, but to embrace it.
And I’m ready for things to be a little bit more about me.
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Great article, I have 2 teenagers and doesnt seem to get any easier as time goes on
I agree with you there…im a mom of 8 with three being adults and the rest teens except the youngest who is 7…and still my hands are full…its doesnt get easier just gets different.
me too……
My daughter is about to enter her 4th year of college and I thought when she went away to school I would be terribly lonely and wouldn’t know what to do with myself (I’m single) But this phase of my life…This one where almost everything is about me for the first time in 25 years……It’s such a wonderful time. I love when my daughter comes home to visit. I love talking with her on the phone about all of her experiences as an adult. Every scary stage and fear of them growing up just gives way to a new stage that is every bit as wonderful!
My kids are 12 and 16 and I am happy to finally be getting “me” back. I adore my kids and have loved the experience of raising them. But I love me too.
I just completed my first Olympic distance triathlon since having kids (nearly 20 years ago). I was wonderful to have me back.
BTW, you were somewhat of an inspiration for me doing the tri. We are women and we CAN do anything we set our minds to.
My girls are 5, 4, and 11 months….in 2 weeks my baby will turn 1, the following week my biggest will go to kindergarten, and the week after that my middle will go to preschool. I know we neeeeed to be done having kids, but something inside me just says over and over — HAVE ANOTHER BABY!! IT CAN”T BE OVER YET!! IT ALL WENT SO FAST!! So I am happy to read this post. I’ll probably read it over and over and over to help me see the bright side of the tiny kid phase ending soon. Who am I if I’m not pregnant or nursing or up 5 times each night or having at least 2 children touching me at all times??
My kids are the same ages and I feel the exact same way. Solidarity, sister.