Wednesday
Feb252009
What Rough Beast, Its Hour Come 'Round At Last...
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 2:10AM | Mr Lady
A few people commented yesterday about the lying and how they thought it was worrisome*. I, naturally, read those comments and nodded my head in agreement, but that idea had stuck with me all day today, tugging at my sleeve, and I'm not entirely sure why. But I kept thinking about it, and I've come to one conclusion: I'm not worried about it. In fact, I think I'd be worried if it wasn't happening.
I was at the park the other day with my neighbor and her kids. She has a 2 year old and a newborn, both *just* their ages. (Vile betrayer aside: My uterus lept out of my abdomen and made a grab for that newborn. Stop it, bitch; we've talked about this. You had your turn.) Her 2 year old is the poster child for children. He's the kid you dream about having. There seriously isn't a better kid anywhere, and I'm totally comparing him against my own. And, of course, he's two now, so he's suddenly becoming less that desirable company all the time. At least insofar as she tells it. I've never seen anything but halos and rainbows coming out of that boy. Anyway, she was lamenting the passing of "the good kid". She was telling me about his tantrums and his obstinence and how sad she was about it. I, of course, was offering her an assload of advice she hadn't asked for instead of really listening, until she said this:
"I just miss how he was. He was so perfect."
That, I heard. That, I've said a million times myself. THAT I actually knew the response to. Which was this:
"Dude, he is perfect. He's supposed to be doing this. He's perfectly two, you know? He HAS to do this."
And I firmly believe that. I don't pretend to actually know anything about child-development, but what I've observed over the past decade plus is that kids have to test their relationships with us at pretty precise phases of their lives. Two is the first one. Three comes next, and it's just like two but with painfully great vocabulary. Then there's the school-aged pull-away, and that one's gentler. They need to do this to gain a sense of who they are and how they're going to relate to the world around them. They have to separate from us slowly, in phases, and it's got to be hard and confusing at every phase. OF COURSE they make us suffer.
We take it for granted that they'll walk at this age and talk at this age and cut teeth at this age and potty train at this age. We stalk those statistics. We compare them with other kids. We talk to the doctor about them. We totally ignore the fact that the attitude is part of that package, and I think it's a pretty damn important part. It's not what they're doing, it's who they're becoming.
Granted, my kid isn't quite 11 yet, which may seem young to be hitting this next phase, but the sad truth is that he's right on target. Like it or not, this puberty thing starts a hell of a lot earlier than it did for us. (You'll thank me later aside: Bookmark that link. You're going to need it someday. It's the best resource I've ever found for kids on puberty.) He may not have the armpit hair just yet for his troubles, but good lord you should smell him. He's been slouching towards puberty for several years now. OF COURSE he's lying to me.
He's trying to find his own footing in the world right now. He doesn't tell me how his day was anymore, he doesn't ask for my help with his homework anymore, I have to force a 5 second cuddle out of him at night, and he's got a PhD in eyerolling. I am no longer cool. AT ALL. I am no longer funny or pretty or smart. I am his mawwwwwm. I am something he doesn't really want a whole lot to do with anymore. Sure, he still seeks me out in the crowd at his basketball games, but god help me if I wave to him. Sure, he still wants me to help out in his classroom, but only while he's at gym class. He wants to know I'm around, he just doesn't actually want to see me. And I have no doubt that he wasn't *this* much glad I'd busted him, for two reasons. One: He had proof that I was looking. Which means I care. No matter how annoying that is for him, just like at his games. Two: I got the message loud and clear that he's interested in moving on to the next level, the one where he can take over some of the choices I'm still holding on to for him, and he didn't have to talk to me about it.
Does it make any sense at all? Hell no. Does any adolescent child make any sense at all? Hell no. When I was barking right down his throat, I asked him, "Do you think your father and I were your age so very long ago that we can't remember doing this same sort of thing?" And then I realized that no, we weren't his age so very long ago that we can't remember doing this stuff. I totally remember doing this stuff, the little lies, the small deceptions. It was important to me, to my self esteem, to my image of myself to be able to pull off the small victories. I needed to carve my own path, you know, and so does he.
So maybe it's time to loosen the leash a notch or two. Maybe he's ready for the next step, whether or not I am. I wasn't ready for him to walk, either, but he sure had to do that. All I've hoped for with these kids is that they'll grow up to be humble, to be kind, to be sensible and to be their own men. I don't want them to be "my sons" forever, I want them to go into the world and do something, be something, of their own making. I want to be the foundation of their lives, not the walls. And that's beginning, my role is starting to shift. Just so long as he knows that I know, and that I'm watching however silently, I think we'll get through this phase just fine, as well. That, and a parental controls blocker set to DefCon 5.
Because really? I see porn on my laptop once, and someone goes to military school.
*You gals don't mind that I'm replying to you comments with another post do you? I sure hope not.
I was at the park the other day with my neighbor and her kids. She has a 2 year old and a newborn, both *just* their ages. (Vile betrayer aside: My uterus lept out of my abdomen and made a grab for that newborn. Stop it, bitch; we've talked about this. You had your turn.) Her 2 year old is the poster child for children. He's the kid you dream about having. There seriously isn't a better kid anywhere, and I'm totally comparing him against my own. And, of course, he's two now, so he's suddenly becoming less that desirable company all the time. At least insofar as she tells it. I've never seen anything but halos and rainbows coming out of that boy. Anyway, she was lamenting the passing of "the good kid". She was telling me about his tantrums and his obstinence and how sad she was about it. I, of course, was offering her an assload of advice she hadn't asked for instead of really listening, until she said this:
"I just miss how he was. He was so perfect."
That, I heard. That, I've said a million times myself. THAT I actually knew the response to. Which was this:
"Dude, he is perfect. He's supposed to be doing this. He's perfectly two, you know? He HAS to do this."
And I firmly believe that. I don't pretend to actually know anything about child-development, but what I've observed over the past decade plus is that kids have to test their relationships with us at pretty precise phases of their lives. Two is the first one. Three comes next, and it's just like two but with painfully great vocabulary. Then there's the school-aged pull-away, and that one's gentler. They need to do this to gain a sense of who they are and how they're going to relate to the world around them. They have to separate from us slowly, in phases, and it's got to be hard and confusing at every phase. OF COURSE they make us suffer.
We take it for granted that they'll walk at this age and talk at this age and cut teeth at this age and potty train at this age. We stalk those statistics. We compare them with other kids. We talk to the doctor about them. We totally ignore the fact that the attitude is part of that package, and I think it's a pretty damn important part. It's not what they're doing, it's who they're becoming.
Granted, my kid isn't quite 11 yet, which may seem young to be hitting this next phase, but the sad truth is that he's right on target. Like it or not, this puberty thing starts a hell of a lot earlier than it did for us. (You'll thank me later aside: Bookmark that link. You're going to need it someday. It's the best resource I've ever found for kids on puberty.) He may not have the armpit hair just yet for his troubles, but good lord you should smell him. He's been slouching towards puberty for several years now. OF COURSE he's lying to me.
He's trying to find his own footing in the world right now. He doesn't tell me how his day was anymore, he doesn't ask for my help with his homework anymore, I have to force a 5 second cuddle out of him at night, and he's got a PhD in eyerolling. I am no longer cool. AT ALL. I am no longer funny or pretty or smart. I am his mawwwwwm. I am something he doesn't really want a whole lot to do with anymore. Sure, he still seeks me out in the crowd at his basketball games, but god help me if I wave to him. Sure, he still wants me to help out in his classroom, but only while he's at gym class. He wants to know I'm around, he just doesn't actually want to see me. And I have no doubt that he wasn't *this* much glad I'd busted him, for two reasons. One: He had proof that I was looking. Which means I care. No matter how annoying that is for him, just like at his games. Two: I got the message loud and clear that he's interested in moving on to the next level, the one where he can take over some of the choices I'm still holding on to for him, and he didn't have to talk to me about it.
Does it make any sense at all? Hell no. Does any adolescent child make any sense at all? Hell no. When I was barking right down his throat, I asked him, "Do you think your father and I were your age so very long ago that we can't remember doing this same sort of thing?" And then I realized that no, we weren't his age so very long ago that we can't remember doing this stuff. I totally remember doing this stuff, the little lies, the small deceptions. It was important to me, to my self esteem, to my image of myself to be able to pull off the small victories. I needed to carve my own path, you know, and so does he.
So maybe it's time to loosen the leash a notch or two. Maybe he's ready for the next step, whether or not I am. I wasn't ready for him to walk, either, but he sure had to do that. All I've hoped for with these kids is that they'll grow up to be humble, to be kind, to be sensible and to be their own men. I don't want them to be "my sons" forever, I want them to go into the world and do something, be something, of their own making. I want to be the foundation of their lives, not the walls. And that's beginning, my role is starting to shift. Just so long as he knows that I know, and that I'm watching however silently, I think we'll get through this phase just fine, as well. That, and a parental controls blocker set to DefCon 5.
Because really? I see porn on my laptop once, and someone goes to military school.
*You gals don't mind that I'm replying to you comments with another post do you? I sure hope not.
Reader Comments (91)
This post screams at me as I worry about letting my almost-3 year old spend a couple of weeks at gramma's house: I'm not ready for him to be that old yet. It is what it is, and he's getting older. My other boy will be 8 this summer. It seems like just last year I was fixing bottles and changing diapers for him.
They grow up whether we like it or not. And yeah, it hurts us. As I recall, it didn't always feel that great when I was doing the growing up myself.
Thanks for a thought-provoking look into the all-to-near future!
You know I would comment. Right?
You are totally right. And this is why teens are so un-bareable.
So we CAN let them go. Cause if they were still like the cute little perfect 2 year old we would never haul their arses out the door.
Seriously. I come from a different perspective. I have my forever toddler. I see other kids his age and they are obnoxious and lying and smartarses and can have conversations.
Right on track so to speak.
The first time Boo lied to me I nearly threw a party.
It is the first step to independence.
If you trust him, which I think you do and should, then there is absolutely no problem is there?
I think being able to detach yourself, and look at the bigger picture is good too. I would be worried that if I got 100% compliance, that I would pay for it at some point. I think it is healthy to question, probe, manipulate to your advantage, that sort of thang. An active mind, and a modicum of rebellion will stand a kid in good stead for a happy and successful future.
My oldest will be five this summer. Every time she moves on in her life, it's like I'm losing the old kid, but getting to know a new one who's just as lovely (eventually, once the shouting and bitching is over). The disconcerting thing is, usually we get all kinds of unpleasantness first and the nice things come long, looooong afterwards.
I plan to hoard away bits and pieces of age four for the days when my opinion no longer counts and she thinks I'm not cool. That, and embarrassing photographs and video clips.
"What was that, Pea? I 'don't get it?' Oh, I get it. And while you're catching up, why don't you take a look at these..."
My first visit... but I think that we have some mutual friends *waving at Kelley, T, and others*
I think about a lot of the things that you are going through, because we are on that threshold with our ten year old daughter, who is just at the first hint of conflict with Mrs GF. It's that whole "two women in the house" thing (I so don't get it)
MY young one still seeks us out at soccer and at the skating rink, and she smiles when we wave... but I know the embarrassment phase is on it's way.
Hang in there, friend.
"Because really? I see porn on my laptop once, and someone goes to military school."
That's funny!
Well said. My 13yo is killing me at the moment. I want to tear my hair out. He hates me. And then there's the flipside to all of that. He's confident, he is really asserting himself as HIM. He's getting on in the world, he's becoming an adult and isn't that what I bloody-well want? Yeah. So I'm just going to hang on and hope I don't kill him in the meantime!
Excellent, excellent post. I don't have anything to add, but it struck such a chord with me that I had to acknowledge it with a comment. I am barely surviving my son's threeness because I want perfection and he is perfectly three. I'll have to keep this post in the forefront of my mind. He is perfect! Just not cooperative *lol*
God DAYUM you're a good mom.
And THAT is why I am smothering my 10 year old right now! I can feel the edge of the cliff we're on. I can feel it under my toes and I know we are on the verge of a major change in our relationship. And I just want to hold on as long as I can before he jumps off...
Wow. I was going to ask if you would teach a parenting class and let me enroll. But then I realized you already are, and I get to come here everyday, and sometimes snort coffee out my nose because we don't ALWAYS have to talk about our kids. DAMN you're smart. This helps me so much with the incredible push-pull of my 5-yr-old right now, who is dying to start kindergarten and be a big kid and not be forced into naptime at school and really learn stuff. But on the other hand is pitching all kinds of babyish fits and refusing to feed himself properly some nights at dinner. Ya think he's struggling with the transition from toddler to kid much? *snort* *eyeroll at myself for lack of comprehension* I never thought of it that way. This will give me so much more patience with him. Thank you.
I'm not a parent (yet-soon though) but I think you are totally on track with this, so much so that I'm going to print this out and tuck it away for when I start to worry about my own children misbehaving. I think you're kids are pretty f'in lucky to have you for a mom!
You, my darling, are a fantastic mother.
You're right...sometimes we have to loosen the reigns even if we don't want to. Each step seems (to me) to be more difficult than the last. I have always been excited to watch my girls gain their independence, but at the same time, terrified of what lies ahead. I do remember what it was like not so long ago and yet, not so long ago it was SO VERY different.
Parenting...why doesn't it come with a manual??
~K
Seriously. I get the "worries" from others. I really do. But I say this.
My daughter is 11yrs old with raging pre-teen hormones and I have been beating my head against a rusty nail since it started (11yrs ago.) It is worrisome. It is stressful. I am losing my hair at an alarming rate. However, if I continue to do so now, I will have no energy left to do it when it matters most. i.e. Drugs, Sex, Drugs, SEX. SEX. Sex. Also known as HIGH SCHOOL.
It goes hand in hand with "pick your battles." Yes. If she lies to me, she does get consequences and it is approached. It just isn't alarming. You are perfectly correct in this post. It happens. You cannot stop it from happening and it will continue to happen. It is NOT unheard of. I did it. You did it. Our parents did it. Our great grandma's on our fathers side did it. It has been happening since cavemen started fire. It's called puberty. It sucks hairy balls but it goes along with having a child. And I challenge anyone to prove to me that their teenager is perfect and shit's butterflies.
With that said, I don't believe that you should be at all worried about your situation with your son. You should handle the issue and prepare yourself for more to come. But don't beat yourself up with a wet noodle for Pete sakes. Or you will be exhausted by the time he reaches 15yrs old.
Now that I wrote a novel and tried my best to shrink down my thoughts in this comment, I hope you relish in the fact that your son is hitting his puberty mark on time and you have years more to deal with it.
Now go drink excessivly and take a prozac cocktail while you are at it. Cheers to my fellow Pre-Teen Mom.
Long time lurker and first time poster, however...
I totally agree with you. I have an almost 13 year old and we've been through the same things you are writing about. I think the early onset of puberty is related to some of those behaviors.
Knowing that it's ok for your kid to lie once in awhile and letting them know you caught them is healthy, just as you said. It's OK! If my son came home with an elaborate story every day I'd worry that something is amiss.
Invest now in Those swimsuit issues.
Thanks for making a great blog.
And so it begins. You are right, there will be these awful stages of development that as parents I think we all know are going to happen but somehow still hope, a little tiny inkling of a hope, that our child will be different. That he or she will rise above all that oozing hormonal drama and be different. But really, we wouldn't want it any other way. This is how they learn cause and effect, action and consequence. This how they learn right from wrong and who they want to be. Hopefully you have gotten a kid, or three of them, who can actually SEE there is a long term future, and not just the 5 minutes that just happened, the present and the 5 minutes in the future. The oldest step son is one of those. Life is NOW, things must happen immediately or the world as we know it WILL.END. DRAMA. The younger step son is the conniving, sneaking lie to your face one. Only he is not too smart about it, so he gets caught. With a giant bag of oregano for instance, which we are pretty sure he thought was something else. THAT was good for a laugh and then punishment. Although having your ever so not cool parents laugh at you is probably punishment enough.
good lord. i think i'm ready for kids and then i read this and i'm like, LEGS CLOSED FOR TEN YEARS THANKYAMUCH. seriously tho, i guess you progress right along with your kids. one thing i can't seem to get past right now is that i won't be my kids best friend forever. that's kind of a hard thing to choke down. ugh. being responsible sucks sometimes. and i also think this so-called 'lying' isn't lying, it's bending the truth to further protect your little ones. it's needed sometimes. i wish my mom had a better sensor sometimes. you seem like the most down to earth mom evah. i would totally trust my kids with you. so long as you didn't have any super glue or nail guns nearby. just sayin'. i don't trust MYSELF with those things.
There was one time I lied to my mom and I knew she knew I was lying but she didn't call me out on it. 15 years later it stands out to me as a great parenting moment.
In my opinion (b/c it's very important and it's my sole duty in this world to share it with everyone I meet), you're dead on, Mr. Lady. My 13 yr old, Francois Philippe, lies about shiz like that all the time. The only time I've ever busted him HARD for it was when I caught him (don't ask how) sneaking out of the movie theater and into the car with some teenagers I didn't know. That was baaaaaaaaaaad.
You are very right. It's hard sometimes for us parents to realize when it's time to loosen up a bit. They tend to grow up so fast that we can blink and totally miss it. If you didn't "act" like you cared he'd act a damn fool. The thing I know is that they DO want us around they just want some freedom too. Finding that balance my pose a challenge...Good Luck!
THANK YOU for writing this. I have an 11-year-old boy who is just KILLING me right now, and this was just the attitude adjustment I needed.
Sometimes, parenting seems a lot less fun. It's worth it, sure...but so very hard. And trying. On my nerves. I'm not looking forward to puberty...my kids' puberty, I mean.
This is such a great post. I am constantly reminding my husband that our four year old is supposed to act like a little asshole sometimes. They don't say "attention span of a four year old" for nothing. He's busy taking in everything in the world around him and sometimes, yes, you have to raise your voice to get his attention, but there's no need to scream and yell and make a big deal about it. I like your approach that you want to be the foundation, not the walls. That sums up nicely how I feel, too. Thanks for writing this and reminding all of that that part of this parenting gig is dealing with the kids turning into real people, not the perfect little angels you always imagined you'd have.
Well said my friend. Well said. My Things are 11 and 13 and you are so right on target here. They have to push at boundaries and test our sanity. We have to hold a little snugly but also know when to give way.
I think you need to write a parenting book. What you said to your friend is so important... I wish I had known that, or had a friend like you, when I was a new mom. Those words would have saved me.
I hope you are still around in my life when my kids become teenagers. I might have to move next door to you.
For what it is worth, I think you are right on; they do these things because they have to, period. Do all kids *have* to lie? Maybe not, in their parents' happy little dream world called "I am Perfectly Content to Think This Isn't Happenening Becuase I am Fucking Stupid." I mean, when Eli was 10 he turned into an animal and was a stinky, smelly, belligerent asshole; he got pissed one day and kicked out a window in the house, for God's sake. Was that acceptable? Um, no-but the motivation behind it was perfectly understandble. Kids lie, they go through a phase of stealing and sneaking and putting forth a lot of effort to make oyu think they really DID take a shower. And it is all part of this testing us and seeing how much we are paying attention, and trying to figure out whether or not there really are consequences.
You are a fantastic mother! I am totally hooked on your site! Keep up the great posts! My kids are now 20 (*gasp* this hit me hard) and 16 and my one goal this whole time was to give them the structure and discipline they needed, but also the the age appropriate freedoms they've needed along the way. Has it been easy to do? Hell no! But the satisfaction of keeping close relationships and watching them turn into responsible, caring, independent people is sooooo worth the speedbumps along the way!
You keep me sane, and I heart you. I really, really do. You are never, ever aloud to give up blogging. I so NEEDED this post today. My girl was such a B*TCH yesterday, I thought I might kill her.
Oh, and keep this website handy www.teenshealth.org
Same folks who set up the website you linked above, but for slightly older kids. My girl will tell you "No! I nevah looked at the lame website my mom sent me a link for!" Her browsing history tells me otherwise. ;)
Yup, I am that sneaky mom.
Oh this was a like getting a great big hug. I agree 100% with what you said...My son wanted to grow his hair...ok, I got it...He needed to have some control over something, so the deal was as long as he washed it (really really well, I do the sniff test when he gets out of the shower) that he could keep growing it...His dad hated it...funny, dad had long hair when he was a kid...but whatever. I was going to let him have it, it was within his control, and was something he had to be responsible for.
I keep my eyes open for those phases...he was in 5th grade, going into 6th, it was a right of passage, and I was going to give it to him...besides he looked so darn cute.
I don't look forward to all of them...but I'm ready...brind it on!
Helllloooooo, Miss MrLaaaaaaady!
It'll be a long time until my almost-4-year-old is at the stage your son is, but I just wanted to tell you that I loved this post! I'm bookmarking it because, hells yeah!, I'll need to read it on an hourly basis I'm sure when that day comes.
this post totally brought me to tears. I don't want my 6 year old son to start pulling away from me! what a reminder that he wont be my wittle baby any more :(
I loved this post. I read the other and got a giggle out of it...God, I SO remember doing that to my parents (a million years ago)...
Way to let your kids be themselves.
It's what we all want for our kids, but we often forget we have to let go a little to get there.
Awesome post.
Thanks
high five.
did the two year old's mom weep when you told her it was normal? i would have hugged you and baked you cookies.
My 6.5 year old has been lying to us, not about anything major, just things like "No I didn't hit my sister" when she's standing there crying. I kinda started to feel like it was MY fault, like I wasn't parenting correctly or paying enough attention to him or SOMETHING, ya know? So this post makes me feel MUCH better. I can't even tell you.
(lightbulb pops on) I see now that it's all normal behavior but where it's important is how I react to it, the lessons that I can teach and the path I direct him on. By not responding or handling these situations correctly, that's where we go wrong with our kids and turn them into little criminal assholes who don't take responsibility or have any regard for others' feelings/property. Some days it'd be so much either to just throw my hands up and say "Whatever dude" but I don't want to create a kid that nobody can stand to be around or who *I* can't stand to be around.
Parenting = Constant Vigilience + Consistency
And this? "I want to be the foundation of their lives, not the walls." Sheer brillance. Where do you get this stuff?!?
you need to write some boks, yo. and i will buy them.
um. books. you can write boks too, but i won't buy those.
Kick ass Ree. I'm not a mom, but reading that, made me want you for mine. :) Although you would have been 3 when you had me, but hey, kids are hitting puberty younger and younger. ;)
Keep on keepin' on, sista.
My kids are 27, 18, and 13. All are as different as night and day but they all as pre-teens and teens have pushed all my buttons. I think catching them in a lie is good. It lets them know that you care and that they are accountable for their actions. My oldest was full of disdain and eyerolling. My son even at 18, still whines and tries to make "deals" to get out of trouble or get what he wants. My youngest is 13, very independent, thinks she should be allowed to do what ever she wants, but she is the only one who actually listens to reason and can see your point.
As Super Chicken used to say, "You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred!"
My oldest turns 5 tomorrow and I'm so not ready to move to the next phase. Please keep writing for at least another 13 years so I will know what to do.
This is just a great post. I think you've summed up what I believe will be the hardest I will ever have to do for my daughter's growth and development and, while I am not looking forward to it, I am glad to know that others can and are doing it every day.
Also, "He’s been slouching towards puberty for several years now"? Good one.
Oh Mr. Lady, I'm all teary eyed. You're like at your best with that post up there. So friggin' common sense smart and such a mama you are. Every kid should be so damn lucky and I'm not just saying that to blow smoke up your ass.
Really.
Of course, you're right and he's right and everyone will all be fine and healthy and smart and successful and lying about this password video game is not worrisome enough to really worry - I mean he's not headed to jail or anything!!
Stellar follow-up post - I'm gonna remember this one.
my son makes up fantastic stories at age 7. he told the school he was so sick he had to go to the hospital. and of course i look bad bc i didn't tell the school anything.
but he does make up fantastic stories and you are so right on about the part, where kids are supposed to do certain things at a certain age. i have to remember that when i take things so personally and my spouse has to remind me. they're kids, they're supposed to do things like try to stick their tongue out or roll their eyes and then you have to discipline.
but i just never did that to my parents and not taking it personally yo, is so darn hard!
working on it.....
Actually, I do mind.
Heh.
No but seriously? DO. NOT. WANT. Where were you last week when I was in melt down mode over the discussion I had with my kids teacher? Seriously, melt down.
This isnt normally my thing, but I have to say it. You are probably right. *cringe*
;-)
OMw I'm so not ready for my boys to get older!
Whatever. My kids are never growing up. They're not allowed.
"I want to be the foundation of their lives, not the walls" - My most favorite sentance from this post. Love your writing. Love it. You are my role model for motherhood. Seriously. Thanks, as always, for something to think about.
Your post really hit home for me. My son is 10 years old and I've been struggling with the pulling away thing. I recognize he's trying to cut his own path for himself but it's so *hard* to let him. Thanks for this wonderful perspective and it's nice to know that us Mawwwwwwwm's aren't alone out there ;)
I'm going to print this and read it when 7yr old gets older. I try right now to remember her age and when i was this age, but i don't want her to grow up, let alone my 4yr old :( Right now I'm still her best friiiend.
You are so smart. Seriously, you inspire me.