Been teary over growing up DS1

[LumpOfCoalAndASatsuma]

My eldest, DS17 seems to have grown up before my eyes in a matter of months. I think I can attest to him starting lower 6th. Before this, he wasn't really interested in going out that much or having that many friends outside of school. He was just hanging out with us and my other DC. We have moved countries a few times and so it was just us 4, and we are (were) very close.

I have been a bit teary over the past few days thinking I am losing my boy. He is now wanting to go out with friends, he has a girlfriend, and he was asking me about contraceptives 😱

I know I need to get over myself. I felt a bit jealous of his new love, but that is silly because she is lovely. He is the loveliest young man. He works hard at school, got himself a p/t job and he is learning to drive.

I just need to get over myself. I'm sure I will. It is just that I went to bed the night before school started, and woke up to find my son was a man.

Apologies as I know there are loads of threads about this.

It's a sign of health as my Mam would say. It's natural and proper and sad, all at the same time. I was just thinking the same thing, my oldest is 17 too, and sometimes I really long for a cuddle. He's too big alas. We're out for lunch & I just rubbed his head, and only got an exasperated huff

It's natural and proper and sad

I agree. I wouldn't have it any other way. He is turning out everything I was hoping he would. I even went to great lengths to make sure he was a very independent person, because my own mum died when I was 17 and I had a really rough time afterwards.

He is absolutely lovely, and handsome, and clever and funny.

Just wish he was 2 again and I could do it all over again.

If we don't woman up & let them go we'd end up being one of those overbearing MIL's from the AIBU threads.

Hi op, sorry you're feeling sad.

I wanted to say you've made me think, as today I am struggling a lot with a tantruming two year old. Came on here looking for advice but instead saw your post and I'm going to try and chill and appreciate the good moments.

Your boy will come back to giving you cuddles soon enough, I'm sure. And you get to see the results of all your love and hard work in him now as he goes about building himself a life.

I understand so much more how my mum must have felt when we left home since I've been a parent- so I give her extra cuddles now

My 19 year old ASKS for a hug on occasion!
You've done your job OP. You've raised a hard working, caring young man. It's the natural thing for him to become ever more independent- you'd be writing a different post if he still just hung around the house with no outside social life! You'd be wondering how he'll cope moving away to university (or wherever). Now you don't have to! Sounds like he's still feeling close to you as he asked you about birth control. Be proud he's responsible too 😁.

I know exactly what you mean OP, but I'm trying to tell myself that I'd be more worried if he was in the house with us all the time.
I still miss him though...