I think I might be old. I really, really need to go to the grocery store. I could have gone today but would have had to take Tate, Rylen and Carter with me. What used to be unavoidable seemed like way too much work today. When the twins were babies, I would put Tanner in the big part of the cart, Chase in the seat of the cart & Chloe in a front pack and do the grocery shopping. Or Tanner in the seat of the cart & the twins in the double stroller. Then I would push the cart & pull the stroller. Add Kaleb.... Or several foster kids. I went everywhere with kids in tow - malls, grocery stores, road trips, parks, school meetings, church, foster care visits. I've become spoiled & soft in the last few years because the thought of taking the three of them to walmart today made me cringe.
I attended a PTO meeting at Tate's school this evening. It's a new crowd for me at a school that we haven't attended before. I used to go to meetings as one of the Moms with little kids, the young Moms, the unexperienced Moms. All of those 'older' Moms were in some other category - a different world. A world with teenagers and lots of different school experiences and tons of advice for the younger Mom crowd. You know the ones, right? The Moms that smile and nod when you tell them your troubles but know enough to know that what you're experiencing happens to every Mom & it's just a fleeting moment in parenting. The ones that say things like "Enjoy it. They grown up so fast." Apparently, I have joined the Experienced Mom group. I introduced myself to those on the PTO board. I only got a little bit of "wow, 5." But a lot of "wow, High School students!!"
That's me. The Mom of High School Students. A High School Senior even. Tate recently was kind enough to remind me several times that Tanner will be 18 when he has another birthday. I'll soon be the Mom of an Adult. Though I've never liked it when people said it to me, they really do grow up so fast. On the bright side, now I have built in babysitters to take care of little people when I go to the store. And that's exactly what I plan on happening tomorrow.
"Enjoy every minute--they grow up so fast!" doesn't mean you have to enjoy it when someone takes out your sliding glass window with a hammer. You still get to wear the good mom badge if that minute pisses you off.
ReplyDeleteAs the mother of an 18-year-old I'd like to assure you that it's not really adulthood. They have the shape and form thereof, but are still quite in need of a mommy.