Dismissed

Sunday was JT's turn to go to camp.

At the beginning of the registration process, when we were standing at the end of the line, JT was my cuddly little boy. Hanging out with me, standing close ... close enough for me to place my arm around his shoulders.

I love it that, at 9-years-old, he still likes to stand close.

In a couple years he will be able to put his arm around my shoulders.

By the time we made it to his cabin, JT wanted to keep us at arm's length.

To him, we could not leave soon enough.

And, so we did. Leave.

No hug. No "love you". No handshake. No "see you later".

When left, he had joined his cabin mates by the stream, and had started a conversation about snakes, which he had seen in that stream earlier in the summer. Boys and snakes, a sure conversation starter.

I called to him, and said we were leaving.
Aren't you proud of me? I did not run over to him, giving him a big hug and kiss. Hugs and kisses from mom would be a sure conversation-ender.

He raised his hand and said "bye".

He raised his hand at me and said "bye".

He raised his hand at me and said "bye". The woman who gave him life. Labored for 33 hours, so he could have life.

He raised his hand at me and said "bye".

:::sigh:::

A sign of things to come. I just hope he will put his arm around my shoulders every once in a while.

You Know You Are A Parent When ...

You rave about appliances, even blog about the coolest floor cleaning appliance ever (and call it "the coolest floor cleaning appliance ever.)

While talking to a friend you can discuss politics and Olivia's new show in one conversation.

You hire a college-age babysitter for the evening and when you ask if 9 or 10 was too late for her she says "No." She's a college student, her evening doesn't begin till 10, at the earliest.

Some days just getting a shower, and maybe dressed in regular clothes, are your biggest accomplishments.

Breakfast and lunch consists of the kid's leftovers. At dinner time you have a chance to sit down and eat your own food, plus the kid's leftovers.

When you "hit the sales" it is to buy kid's clothes, none for you.

They Grow Up So Fast

When JT came home one day and said he got in trouble during lunch because he burped in a girls face I knew we had the starts of a crush.

Boys pick on girls they like. Not that I'm condoning the burping, hitting, tripping, teasing, or whatever else boys commit with to profess their "like" for a girl. That is what they do.

:::SIGH:::

I just pray that all my lecturing about how to treat a girl kicks in before they turn 23.

Then he began talking about the same girl. As we looked towards Valentine's Day he talked about sending her a special valentine.


Yikes, this is getting serious.

Then he came home this week and announced that she is his valentine. His girlfriend.

I asked what it meant to have a girlfriend and he said "be nice to her."
OK, well talking myself blue in the face has helped ... a little.

How did this happen so quickly?

I figured we had a few more years of "girl teasing" before there was talk of girlfriends and boyfriends. Apparently not.

I'm thinking I want the baby and preschool years back. I'm not ready for this new stage.