I wish I knew this when my children were younger

[GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat]

No matter how old your children get, they will still make you laugh, surprise you with how clever they are, make you want to burst with pride and all that lovely stuff that makes you want to squeeze them tight when they are little.

I really loved having toddlers. So much that I’m a childminder, I think they are wonderful. And as my own children grew I worried that I would lose that wonder, that connection, that awe and amazement at how special my children were.

You don’t. I have two teens and a pre teen now. They make me proud everyday, I love listening to their stories, I wonder how they know so much and became so kind. Even though they no longer fit on my laps, I get the warmest hugs.

Honestly, I wish I knew that having older children was as joyful and rewarding as having little ones, I wouldn’t have worried. I know I shouldn’t have, but you always think life is going too fast and that the best years are behind us. They aren’t.

Now I worry about them leaving home instead and empty nest syndrome

Thank you so much for your post. I have two little ones and I hate the negative connotations that people insist upon when talking about children growing up.
Your post made me smile and hold out some hope that not all teenagers are utter arseholes! 😂

What a lovely thread! Mine are in their forties now and still bring me so much pleasure. As for the DGC .... pure joy.

Thank you OP. I have a 5, 3 and 1, and I so love it.

What a great op.

I’m so pleased this has helped so many of you. I’m also sad it hasn’t been the case for everyone. I don’t think I deserve an award for great parenting, I’m sorry you think I’m being smug. It’s just people usually only tell you the horrors of teenagers, the bad bits. I feel lucky that so far we have got through unscathed.

I’m also delighted to hear it continues! My eldest is talking a lot about university at the moment and I’m doing everything in my power not to shout ‘don’t go, stay home with me forever!’.

So if you have little ones, enjoy it. Savour those times they fall asleep on you, make you feed them, wipe their faces, wash their hair, because one day you won’t be doing it. But it’s ok! Instead you gain other things, actually things they’ll remember as adults. Conversations about things they know that you’ve no idea about (they are so clever!) cuddles from big teens are just as loving, kindness when they bring you a cup of tea, delight when they buy you a gift they’ve shopped (and paid!) for themselves and friendship- genuine interest in how my day has been.

They have their own interests and it has broadened my experiences. They like climbing, swimming, rollercoasters - all things I don’t. I love watching them and being impressed by skills I don’t possess.

I still look forward to them coming home from school as I did when they were in reception. I still get teary eyed when I read the lovely things their teachers have written in their school reports. I still proudly display their gorgeous faces in their school photos.

And actually some things are better!

Meals out- we can stay out late and they don’t get crabby.

Holidays- they amuse themselves and are super easy to travel with.

Bedtime- they brush their own teeth and change their own sheets.

Mornings- up and out easily whilst I just have to get myself ready.

Love it all! Life’s too short to dread what’s coming next. I’m just getting over a bad time with anxiety so I completely get that life isn’t always rosy. But your children growing older isn’t one of those things to worry about.

Another one who loves your post OP - I’m a single mum with a 10 year old DS and feel privileged that he is such a wonderful boy. I feel so upset when I think about his teen years, thinking that he wont want much to do with me etc. Someone said to be once that it was a shame I had a boy as girls stay with their mums for life (emotionally) whereas boys distance themselves. I was so hurt by this but your post is so
positive and has made me smile x

That's really nice to hear.

I remember comments made to me by 2 different people when my clan were young, the first was from a middle aged guy when my DC were 5 years, 3 years and one just months old, i was outside the local shop trying to get the older 2 to stand still whilst i put the shopping under the pram, he said to me "enjoy this time as it is much harder when they are teenagers" i thought to myself "really ?" He was so right.
The next was about 10 years later and a Mum from the sports club and i we were discussing our young teenager sons and how they were just starting to go into the grunt stage where they cant manage to sound words and were generally just obnoxious smelly ogres, she said her eldest son was due home from uni as his 3 years had come to an end she said" i am just begining to like him again" i replied that that was an awful thing to say, she told me to just wait and see. She too was right, as much as you love them sometimes you just dont like them but they do change back into the nice normal human that you used to have.

Loving spending time with my 13 year old. Started to read the same books love hearing her take in everything. Though dh slightly horrified that she has taken to wearing his old university sports kit as “vintage”

I feel and felt the very same when my two boys were young.
However they are both in their mid thirties and we still have hugs and kisses and the laughing has never stopped.
And its heartwarming that they are bringing up my grandchildren to be the same. Isnt it lovely to read such a nice post and comments.
You have made my w/end for sure
THANK YOU ALL.