When my kids were little, I loved watching them hit their developmental milestones. I embraced them and relished in them. Ever the proud Mommy as I nervously let them creep their way up the stairs alone, ready to catch them if they fell. The excited Mommy as I let go of their hands for the first time, watched them take their first steps and always there to pick them up, planting kisses on their pleased faces after they plopped down on their tushies. Taking such delight in their first words, even if it wasn’t Mama. The sweet smell of my children. Everything about them. Even stinky poops and being vomited on, seconds before I walked out the door on a Saturday night.
All the different stages that came, went and sometimes came again, were either tolerated or enjoyed. Because there is not one thing in this entire world that had my heart and soul aside from my growing babies. Even if it meant waking up in the middle of the night to battle zombies or administer Motrin.
The remote control and phone tug-of-war or the food spitting were, admittedly, a couple of my least favorite of these stages. Did you ever notice that, no matter how many toy remotes and cell phones you buy, they want to mess with the real ones? What’s up with that?
One little quirk that probably was, and still is, my favorite. Watching little kids mouths move when they speak and their facial expressions as they are trying to get their point across. There is nothing cuter to me.
I’m still, thankfully, in that stage with my youngest. When he talks, I watch his mouth. Even if he is having a temper tantrum or saying some ungodly inappropriate words, I have to smile because of how his little mouth forms these sometimes ugly words. He gets so annoyed with me and tells me to stop staring at him. I think I might be creepy stalkerish but that’s ok. In a couple years, he won’t have this little quirk anymore so I won’t have the need to watch him talk. In fact, I’ll most likely be trying to ignore his demands and whines. Kind of like I do with my older kids. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, one day you will.
They used to be so cute. Adorable. Precious. My children. Back in the good old days. Not that they aren’t cute anymore. They are! I have a very beautiful family. My big kids are so sweet. And relaxed. And easy to get along with. And not temper-mental…at. all.
When they are sleeping.
Then…they wake up. And I comfort myself in watching my youngest sons mouth move…while he is talking all the smack that the big kids taught him.
Sigh.
Oh, all the phases and stages of kids. From the cute and cuddly to the heinous and obnoxious. You gotta love them.
All you need is a good hiding place and a really nice bottle of your favorite wine.
I know exactly what you are talking about. I miss mine being a little guy – the good the bad and the ugly. I hide too – but they keep finding me!
.-= gigi´s last blog ..Hello? Guiness Book of World Records? You need to come see me….. =-.
I love the stage Bud is in now where he works so hard to pick the word he wants and then to form it properly so that we can understand. He gets so frustrated and I try not to laugh or smile because he is so serious. I know this stage won’t last long.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Kids… Can’t live with them, can’t shut them up =-.