I cry when I look at videos & pictures of Dc when young

[Stillputtingthefireon]

When Sm memories come up and so on, it’s like a different person/version of them, sometimes I don’t remember them properly and it makes me sad. I can remember picking them up
and how their little chubby arms and hands felt.

Aibu to miss that version of them so much

Plus…all those days together, just me and them in our own little bubble, all the adventures and they likely don’t remember

Their hearts will remember even if their brains don’t!

Of course not!

I miss every version of my DD's who are both now adults.

I miss the cuddly babies, the inquisitive toddlers, the primary age where I was the apple of their eye. I miss the goofy adolescent and the moody teenager version.

But its awesome to look back on their years growing up and reminisce and remember each version of them.

The versions I have now, the happy, independent adult versions, who are also my best friends, are equally as amazing.

Every stage of my kids growing up was full of ups and downs and came with its own set of challenges.

Its okay to miss those stages but try not to get caught up on the past. The here and now is pretty damned special too and I bet, in 5 years time, you will be looking back at the stage they are now and thinking the same thing.

So enjoy and embrace each stage. Your kids will never be as young again as they are right now. ❤

No advice I’m afraid but you’ve just made me remember to appreciate those chubby arms as much as I can now at two and 8 months because I’ll be so sad when these days are over!

I feel the same OP, I have to steel myself to look at old photos of mine from years ago as I feel so emotional remembering what was the best time of my life (it didn't always feel like it at the time though!)

I recently read a pretty sad thread where so many people said they hated motherhood and regretted having their children so this is so lovely to read, I can’t wait for all these stages with my two as well

YANBU, I'm the same, sometimes it feels like someones elses life 😭

DH and I torture ourselves with Google memories and photos of when our children were little! 😭

I am the same but maybe for slightly different reasons. Three teens have issues and one was hospitalised for a year with anorexia. I wish we could all go back I. Time. I absolutely loved those days.

Yanbu at all. My oldest is only 7, she's a delight (most of the time) but oh how I miss those days of chubby little toddler arms and newborn snuggly naps. My youngest is 3 1/2 and I baby him more than I should, we're currently having a cuddle on the sofa before we go get her from school.

Try to enjoy the here and now but there's nothing wrong with missing having very little ones.

I didn't enjoy the baby years AT ALL but I have so much muscle memory of it. When I see young babies or toddlers I can just FEEL the weight of them in my arms.

The other day I suddenly remembered how adorable newborns are when they stretch, and the feeling in my hands of their little chests and tummies all unselfconsciously stretching like a little open bracket. It made me ache!

You mean in the past?

OP you could be me!
It’s gut wrenching isn’t it?

That's a lovely saying

I miss my DCs being little, too. Things were so much easier then and I felt like I was a better mum to them when they were small. 3 teens/pre teens has me in a right spin and I feel so lost these days.

My eyes 'leak' everytime i look at photos of them when young............and they are all 30s & 40s🥰🤣

I don't even remember holding DS! The first three years were a complete blur, it's as if he only arrived age 4. It does make me sad looking back to not really remember cuddling my baby. I have no idea if that's normal!

He's still only young so I make an effort to be as mentally present as possible to avoid forgetting more of his childhood.

I feel exactly the same OP. Recently travelled with mine to see my Mum and where we spend a short part of their lives when they were small. We were walking around the neighbourhood coated in snow and I remember them holding my hand doing the nursery run when they were little. I welled up inside and they were all so sweet giving me a massive group hug.

People always say that most of your life you’ll know your kids as adults and only a small fraction of it when they’re little. I know it’s meant to be like that but I too miss that cozy bubble of baby/childhood when it was just us.

I‘m afraid I have no advice for you but wanted to say I feel your pain and longing. As others said those memories will stay with them in their souls and hearts ❤️ @Stillputtingthefireon

I'm torn. We don't have anywhere near as many videos of ours when they were young as parents do now because we didn't have smart phones.

But I'm not a massive fan of the whole "they're growing too quick" or "please don't grow up" thing because, well, that's what they're supposed to do and it's a joy and a privilege. I have friends (as I'm sure many of you have) who have lost babies and children and I've lost a friend who won't see her baby grow into a child or a teenager or an adult. And that's worse.

That's so much worse than my cute little podgy toddler now being a hulking beast with a moustache, or my dainty little shy boy being a beefy muscled uni student and so on. I want to see them become whatever they evolve into and I'm here for that whole journey.

Parenting isn't just about babies and toddlers, it's about all those other crazy ages they'll hopefully be.

I wouldn't say that you're being unreasonable, I'd just say try to find the joy in who they are now or who they'll be tomorrow.

Nope. I'm not cloyingly sentimental, and I much prefer DD as a teen than a toddler. Toddlers are exaustingly boring.

I know what you mean OP.

My sons are 16 and 20, and I can't look at old photos without feeling sad.
Of course it's not "real" sadness. My logical brain knows that it's all good. They're growing up, becoming more independent, needing me less, wanting time with friends/girlfriends more than family. As it should be.

But I can't help feeling nostalgic for those magical days of farm parks, building snowmen, splashing in the paddling pool, making dens, playing with toy trains etc.

Sometimes it feels like a million years ago, but other times it feels as if I blinked and my squishy toddlers grew up!

They may not remember, but their souls are built on those foundations of feeling loved, cared for, excited, adventurous, happy and optimistic.
Look back and give yourself a little nod that you did a great job.

Awww! Well, mine are much easier as teens than they were as preschoolers, so no tears here. But when I look at old photos I do sometimes feel a little pang for the sweetness of kissable rosy cheeks, or a warm little hand reaching up for mine.

Mostly, though, there’s so much to be glad of in the present. That they are healthy, happy teens whose (inevitable) bumps in the road have so far been short-lived; that they are excited and motivated about their futures and shaping up to be good citizens; that we and their grandparents are here to enjoy seeing them blossoming into young adults.

Hope you, too, can enjoy the “now” while also treasuring memories of earlier years, OP.

My living room floor is currently strewn with trainset, I stubbed my toe on it and was about to insist they put it away! But your comment bought the trainset an extra couple of hours, I'm sure I'll miss it in a few years.

@Swissmeringue ha ha - I never thought I'd miss the trains. The track would take over the whole living room, and I'd be tripping on it for days. Then gradually, imperceptibly, the massive track set-ups became less frequent. I don't know when it happened, but I put the train set away one time, and it never came out again. It's in the attic now, waiting for grandchildren!