Som turned 16 and I can't stop crying.

[KayaMac]

This will probably sound completely pathetic, but today is my eldest son's 16th birthday, and like my title says, I can't stop crying. I've been emotional all day.
I've put together some social media reals of him growing up and it's made me realise how little he needs me now. And it's breaking my heart.
I mean, I realise that there's nothing different since yesterday, but today it's just hit me like a brick.
I'm so insanely emotional about this and I'm thinking maybe I'm too emotional. I don't remember my mother ever being like this or any other mums I know.
Has anyone else ever felt this way when their teen turns a certain age? Is it normal or do I just need to get a grip?
Just realised I wrote 'som' instead of 'son' in the title. What a numpty. I can't change it.

I thought that sort of rubbish had died out by now.

What chapter ends at 16?!

DD is an only and DH died when she was a teen, it was only us for a long time and I loved all the chapters (babyhood, primary era, teens etc), so when she left for uni I was an emotional wreck. Obvs I was very proud, but it was tough going for a few weeks. However, life goes on and it is excellent having adult children. We are off to Italy together later in the year, and she is paying half the cost

She's 25 and has recently announced she's engaged, I am very happy for her but I also felt quite teary, it reinforced that she is def no longer my little girl. Waits patiently for grandkids.

Hi OP - how are you feeling today? I am sorry you had so many harsh comments. Ouch! Maybe it wasn't so much him turning 16 but the reminiscing over all that old footage of when they were younger? I totally get this - I often get caught down a rabbit hole looking at old photos of DS on my phone. It reminds me of the time when he openly adored me, wanted to spend time with me, listened to my advice, happily chatted to me, wanted to be seen in public with me, laughed at my jokes, smiled in photographs 😂😂...... I miss those days ❤

I'm feeling much better today. Thank you everyone who left a supportive comment. They really helped. Those who were harsh, well that's what you get in life with some. I just hope they are perfect and happy. I'm sure they never have wobbles 🤣
He had a great day. I didn't sob n front of him for those who asked. His celebrations are continuing at the weekend too, so even more to look forward to.
But thank you to those who had kind words. This was my first post and wasn't sure what to expect really. Not sure if I'll post here again. But it's a good place for advice so long as you have thick skin 🤣

Some of these replies are really harsh.

I was moved by the song "Slipping through my fingers" (I recently heard it for the first time; by chance, I had never heard it before), and I'm not even a parent.

Good to hear. Don’t let the trolls on here get to you or put you off posting again.
Hope your son has a lovely birthday!

Spot on.

Has anyone else ever felt this way when their teen turns a certain age?

No.

@KayaMac How will you cope if he goes away to university?

Occasionally I feel sad but then think about the people who won’t reach that milestone for whatever reason with their children. It is a privilege to see them grow up well.

Sometimes you need the vipers of Mumsnet to tell you to give your head a wobble. 😂

Imagine being a 16 year old lad and your mum crying because, you’re er, 16? Well done for not doing it in front of him.

Take pride in a (hopefully) job well done so far. There’s much to enjoy as they become adults. We went out in London with our 2 early 20s sons at the weekend. We had cocktails and lunch somewhere v swanky and laughed like drains all day.

I think its quite normal for mums (and maybe dads) to have a bit of a wobble when kids go to uni.
My DD went this year and I'm not ashamed that we all cried apart from teen DS and the first week felt very strange and weird without her. But lots of friends felt similarly. It's not a permanent feeling and of course the terms are short, but I don't think its unusual to feel like that.

I did feel rather flat when DD went, but I didn't spend all summer crying at the idea like I have read about on some threads on here and other social media.

I get it. It's end of an era.
Hugs op x x

I remember reading on MN that some health visitors tell people not to use Mumsnet, because "it can be very confrontational".

I mean you feel.how you feel but I wouldn't do it in front of others. I also disagree that he doesn't need you, my teens need less from me practically but more emotional support

I only have one, he's 17. I can't imagine being like this over him growing up. But I'm not an emotional person at all. I mean I really love him, but I never cry, and just don't get overcome with feelings like that. So it's definitely not normal for me. But it might be normal for you, are you generally quite an emotional person?

Teenagers need you a lot.

I'm sure I read an identical post about a daughter on here recently. To answer your question OP - no, it is not normal to cry so much over your children growing up.

ZOMBIE POST!

I can’t say anything hit me at a specific age, but I do sometimes get emotional looking at my dc as adults and thinking of when they were little and used to sit on my lap for a hug 🥹

Crying on his 16th Birthday? Get a hold of yourself, ffs....

YEAR OLD THREAD. (And still a ridiculous overreaction.)

My son turned 18 last summer and has gone to uni. Not far away, so I see him very briefly some weekends, but I miss him so much.
But I think this is perhaps because I didn't see him anywhere near as much as I would have liked from the age of 6 so I'm grieving the fact that he is no longer a child and that lost time has gone forever.