On the Road to Adulthood

I can remember people saying to me how I should enjoy every minute with my kids because it goes too fast. I have definitely savored  every moment but I will be the first to tell you it goes by entirely too quickly. What’s even worse is that the bigger the kid, the bigger the problems. I can remember when my biggest concern with my oldest was getting him to sleep through the night or making sure he was eating enough vegetables. Those concerns are so miniscule compared to what lies ahead. This simple test he takes today opens a whole new can of kid-worry worms. Give me the sleepless nights with a newborn any day because the worry you face with a teenage driver pales in comparison. Makes me feel a little dumb for those moment when I felt overwhelmed by the stress of potty training. I thought I knew parenting stress but, goodness, I have been on easy street.

I tell my sister, who just had her  first baby, to enjoy these days with her sweet baby girl. This is the easy part. She , of course, laughs at me and thinks I have forgotten the demands of a newborn. Oh no–I certainly do not. But, I long for the sleepless nights, cold meals, and showerless days. I’d take them back in a heartbeat. Little kids equal little worries

and nothing, at least as of this moment, can compare to the anxiety I feel as my son begins to drive. As I am ending this post, he has just passed his test. The excitement in his eyes is contagious. While I know this is not going to be easy, it is a rite of passage–a step in growing up. As much as it pains me to think about it, that was always the goal of being parent right? For now, I am going to continue to enjoy whatever stage he’s in because I know it won’t be long before this, too, is a distant memory.